The National Pensioners’ Convention hit the headlines as we said goodbye to 2025 and hello to 2026, showing once again the power of our campaigning for the rights of older people.
Happy New Year! Let’s hope 2026 is a better one for us all.
NPC General Secretary Jan Shortt was quoted by the Daily Express in key news items on both December 31, and January 1.
In fact, our comments on the need to keep the Triple Lock guarantee as millions struggle to afford to heat their homes featured on front page news.
On New Year’s Eve, NPC spoke out in support of the poll conducted by our colleagues at the End Fuel Poverty Coalition.
It found a quarter of older people could not afford to heat their homes to the recommended level of 18 degrees, while 3.2 million said their energy bills were 69 per cent higher than the previous year.
Again, NPC voiced our support for the WASPI campaign for compensation over the raising of the pension age for 1950s born women.
WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) are urging people to write a million letters to MPs while the government reviews their decision not to pay compensation.
As we remember, the NPC was founded to promote the welfare and interests of older people, to secure dignity, respect and financial security in retirement for us all.
Our campaigning won some key campaign battles in 2025, including helping to reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment, and having the government keep its promise to maintain the Triple Lock on state pension rises.
We also gained the support of a key government committee in our battle with fellow campaigners for a Commissioner for Older People in England.
As we enter 2026, we wish for a better year for all older people.
But be assured that we remain committed to fighting for the rights of us all in this New Year.
Together we are strong, divided we are weak.
Rodney Sadd
Crowland
