Shirley Williams and Norman Lamb promote a better deal for pensioners in North Norfolk today

7.32.16pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th Apr 2005

Former Home Secretary Shirley Williams and Norman Lamb today in North Walsham

Former Home Secretary Shirley Williams visited North Walsham today. Baroness Williams, one of the country's most respected politicians, joined Norman Lamb at Masters Court sheltered housing and met with residents to discuss issues of interest to them, including the future of council tax and pension policy.

"Pensioners have a right to security and dignity in retirement. This means that as many people as possible should have a sufficient pension to lift them out of means-testing," said Norman Lamb. "Pensioners are missing out on the money they have earned - and deserve and need - because of demeaning and unworkable means tests."

Chatting to a shopper in North Walsham

Shirley Williams highlighted the women's pension injustice and promoted a pension policy based on residency not national insurance contributions, so that taking time out to bring up children would not be penalised.

"There is also the issue of the unfair council tax, which hits pensioners and those on fixed incomes particularly hard," said Norman Lamb. "The council tax has got to go."

Under Lib Dem plans half of all pensioners would pay nothing at all; and half of all families would be better off with another quarter paying about the same.

Shirley Williams later met shoppers in North Walsham Market Place, before joining election activists at the Liberal Democrat HQ. Speaking about Norman Lamb's re-election campaign, Shirley Williams said: "He is a remarkable man - a good, honest politician. And when he's

Norman Lamb and Shirley Williams with Liberal Democrat supporters

re-elected it will be, to a large degree, for who he is."