Closed petition: Create a Cabinet Minister for Older People

Closed on 22 April 2026

We call the Government to create a new Cabinet-level Minister to represent older people and oversee policies affecting ageing, retirement, and wellbeing. Pensioners are around 18% of the population – a similar size to the 0-16 age population. We believe they demand the same representation.

Several charities and the Minister of State for Work and Pensions have highlighted pensioner poverty. It is estimated nearly 1-in-5 pensioners are living in poverty. We believe this is a startling, shameful, figure. Without senior representation at cabinet level, we believe this and other issues like digital exclusion, scams, health conditions, loneliness, poor housing, age discrimination, lack of opportunity for paid work may never be addressed.