Simon Hughes organises first ever Southwark Pensioners' Parliament

10.48.58am GMT Mon 22nd Feb 2010

The first ever session of the Southwark Pensioners' Parliament, organised by Simon Hughes MP took place last week on Monday 15th February 2010. Taking place at the Attlee Suite in the House of Commons, over 100 pensioners from around Southwark attended. Representatives came from the Southwark Pensioners' Action Group, the Southwark Pensioners' Forum, the Southwark Irish Pensioners' and other groups that had been notified via the various pensioners' centres and the local press. Also present were Rt Hon. Harriet Harman MP, representing the Labour Party, and representing the Conservatives was Kemi Adegoke, a prospective parliamentary candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood.

There were two parts to the first session.

The first was for each of the three main parties to make a statement on their key policies ahead of the general election. This was chaired by Tony Farsky, head of the Southwark Pensioners' Action Group (who is approaching 90 and doing very well for it) who subsequently allowed pensioners an opportunity to quiz the speakers on their statements.

The second item of business involved plans for future sessions of the parliament and nominations for the election of the speaker(s) and deputy speakers for the rest of this year. It was agreed that there would be at least two more sessions of the parliament this year at Westminster - one to hear from the new or re-instated executive members of Southwark Council elected after the elections in May and to quiz them on their policies. And the second to quiz the new government ministers once the new government is formed after the general election. Discussions were also held over additional sessions of the parliament to be held in each of the three constituencies in Southwark.

After the event Simon Hughes commented:

"The event was a real success. It was fantastic to see so many pensioners in Westminster, and great to see them all so enthusiastic and fired up (though this was no surprise!)

"The pensioners in Southwark are an extremely valuable part of our community and must not be sidelined. It was clear on Monday that pensioners in Southwark know their rights and care passionately about these, whilst never forgetting the wider community in Southwark.

"On the basis of this first meeting I am very much looking forward to the next session of the Southwark Pensioners' Parliament.

"I am very grateful to the Southwark Pensioners' Action Group, the Southwark Pensioners' Forum, all the pensioners' centres in Southwark and the local press for ensuring this event went so well. I look forward to seeing even more pensioners next time.