Barker calls for more pension crisis help

He is calling for a Lifeboat Fund to be set up to top up the pension income of thousands of vulnerable people who have seen their pension savings from company pension schemes collapse and who now face an uncertain retirement.

The Conservatives say their proposals have been put forward to tackle the consequences of Gordon Brown's 1997 "stealth tax raid," which they say has robbed 100 billion from pension funds.

Mr Barker said: "Gordon Brown has destroyed our pension system, which was one of the best in the world under the Conservatives during the 1980s and early 1990s.

"He robbed today's and tomorrow's pensioners of security in retirement through his 100 billion stealth tax raid and then tried to cover up that fact.

"Now we are all paying the price as Brown's pensions tax has forced up council tax bills, with council tax payers forking out the equivalent of 177 a year just to bankroll town hall pensions."