'Widespread' ageism against 'wealth-hoarding boomers' must be addressed, MPs say

Ageism is so "culturally embedded" in the UK that the government should establish a commissioner for older people - as there is in Wales and Northern Ireland - to help improve the lives of those aged 65 and over, a report by the Women and Equalities Select Committee concluded.

The report said there was "clear evidence" that portrayals of older people as "frail, helpless or incompetent, or conversely as "wealth-hoarding 'boomers'" was "highly prevalent" across the UK media and was a "significant contributory factor to the normalisation of ageist attitude".

It said such negative stereotyping had the effect of "pitting generations against each other and breeding unnecessary and unhelpful division".

There are currently 11 million people in England and Wales aged 65 or older, including more than half a million who are aged over 90, with these figures expected to increase in the coming decades.

'Age discrimination often minimised'

Public services prepare for up to 11% cuts - as defence secretary says 'we must rearm'

The committee, chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen, argued that as well as introducing a commissioner for older people in England the government should also establish a cross-government minister to champion the rights of older people.

"The committee's report shows clearly that age discrimination is widespread in the UK and often minimised compared to other forms of discrimination," she said.

"A comprehensive review of age discrimination law is a necessary step in tackling the UK's pervasively ageist culture."

Ms Owen added: "The UK government should look to the experience in Wales, which has a dedicated commissioner for older people and a national strategy, and consider how to give older people a much stronger voice in policy making in England."

The committee also looked at the issue of digital exclusion, whereby older people feel unable to access essential services such as banking, healthcare and disabled parking permits because provision has moved online.

Offline alternatives must be made available where there was demand from older people, the report said.

Ms Owen continued: "Ultimately much more must be done to tackle ageist attitudes and discrimination across society, including in access to healthcare, local services, banking and transport."

'Inadequate' protections for older people

Evidence found that the commissioner role in Wales had led to an uptake in pension credit - the benefit that helps those who are over state pension age and on a low income with living costs.

Last year, the government made the controversial decision to limit the winter fuel allowance to only the poorest pensioners - those who receive pension credit - and has urged low-income pensioners to apply for the benefit in order to keep their winter fuel payment.

The committee also recommended that the government should commission and fund a wholesale review by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) into the rights of older people, suggesting a strengthened "reasonable steps" duty on employers to prevent age discrimination.

A 25-year-old New Zealand politician's response when heckled by an older colleague is being cheered by millennials around the world.0:22

It said current protections against age discrimination were "inadequate" and "rarely enforced".

The MPs on the committee also said discrimination law and the Public Sector Equality Duty - which requires public authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to have due regard to certain equality considerations when making decisions - "are failing older people".

They urged the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), broadcast media regulator Ofcom and the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) to "take steps to strengthen their respective regulatory codes to better protect individuals and society from the harms of pervasive ageism".

The committee's report was welcomed by charities, including the Center for Ageing Better which urged the government to act on its recommendations.

Dr Carole Easton OBE, the charity's chief executive, said: "The wealthy baby boomer is one of the most common ageist stereotypes used in the media.

"It overlooks the fact older age groups are incredibly diverse - for example, people aged 60-64 have among the highest poverty rates among adults of any age and the fact the number of pensioners who could not afford to keep their home warm more than doubled between 2019-20 and 2022-23."

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, added: "No minister, no commissioner, no group of officials, no government strategy. Given our rapidly ageing population the absence of these things is self-defeating and remedying it would bring big gains and cost little."

A government spokesperson said: "The Equality Act contains strong protections for older people in a variety of settings, including work and the provision of services.

"We recognise the importance of older people and the challenges they face. That is why we are putting more money into pensioners' pockets through our commitment to the triple lock - which is set to increase the state pension by up to £1,900 this parliament."

-SKY NEWS