Very important pensions reforms could possibly be thrown into doubt following the resignation of Man Opperman as pensions minister, some business consultants have warned.
Mr Opperman stated on Thursday morning he resigned with nice remorse, telling Prime Minister Boris Johnson “current occasions have proven clearly that the Authorities merely can’t perform with you in cost”.
It later emerged Mr Johnson will stop as Conservative chief after ministers and MPs made it clear his place is untenable, remaining as Prime Minister till a successor is in place.
Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, stated Mr Opperman’s resignation “leaves pensions in turmoil”.
She stated: “He was personally main various initiatives to enhance pensions engagement, together with the pension dashboard and the pension engagement season.”
Ms Smith added: “Initiatives to enhance member engagement with their pensions have been gathering momentum. These have to proceed at tempo to assist enhance understanding of pensions.
“Crucially, the minister’s resignation might additionally impression the subsequent steps for auto-enrolment, together with decreasing the minimal age from 22 to 18 and basing minimal contributions from the primary pound, in addition to discovering options for the self-employed.
“Solely this week, the pensions minister recommitted to implementing these within the mid-2020s and recommended rising the minimal contributions from 8% to 12% over time.”
Jon Greer, head of retirement coverage at Quilter, stated: “(Mr) Opperman has been eager to drive buyer engagement and assist folks perceive their pension and get worth for cash.”
Helen Morrissey, senior pensions and retirement analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, stated there have been widespread points of individuals not receiving their state pension on time or being underpaid.
She stated: “Some underpayments run into many 1000’s of kilos and stretch over a number of years – they’ve triggered enormous monetary hardship to folks. Whoever succeeds (Mr) Opperman shall be beneath stress to repair these points quick.
“Auto-enrolment points can even be close to the highest of any new pension minister’s in-tray. Over the past decade, we’ve seen 10 million folks enrolled right into a pension, however the subsequent steps must be put in place.”
Tim Gosling, head of pensions coverage at B&CE, supplier of the Folks’s Pension, stated: “Mr Opperman’s departure from the position of minister for pensions and monetary inclusion is a loss for the pensions sector.
“Throughout his lengthy tenure, he’s overseen a interval of real change and progress for pensions. He leaves a robust legacy but in addition a full in-tray for his successor, together with driving ahead computerized enrolment and launching pensions dashboards.”
