The state pension age could rise, it has been claimed on GB News (Image: GB NEWS)
GB News host Stephen Dixon suggested that the age for receiving a pension could end up being increased to 70, after a vote in Denmark resulted in exactly that law being passed. Former Tory Minister Anne Widdecombe appeared on the show via video link to deliver a verdict that had viewers gulping – that the same happening in the UK is “inevitable”.
“Anne, is this a sensible idea or not? People don’t want to keep going until they’re 70,” Stephen exclaimed, with a contemptuous frown spreading across his face at the thought. “No of course they don’t, but it’s pretty well inevitable,” she responded. “In 1950, women’s average longevity was 69 years, which meant the state was paying effectively on average for nine years of retirement. Now it’s 83, and it’s almost inevitable that sooner or later, some British government is going to have to put it up – but of course there’s a limit, there’s a ceiling!”
Anne Widdecombe (pictured here at a Reform conference) says the state pension age could rise to 70 (Image: Getty)
She challenged that it couldn’t rise “endlessly” as frailty and increasing ill health are likely to make the majority unable to work by, for example, age 80.
As lives get longer, however, there is a hope that health outcomes will improve too, with Anne adding that if a cure for Alzheimer’s is found, then “the number of [healthy] people in the pensioners bracket is going to absolutely rocket”.
Businessman Mike Greene, also a guest on the show, agreed that raising the state pension age to 70 was “inevitable but not welcome” as governments seek to “balance books”.
He accused the Labour government of “attacking the easy target of those who are willing to work and have always worked and contribute well, rather than addressing the fact that we have a growing population that can’t work, won’t work and we need to make them work”.
He suggested incentivising working for longer by decreasing taxes, in the wake of the news that Denmark will be raising the state pension to age 70 by the year 2040.
Viewers had their say on X in reaction to the bombshell debate, with one arguing: “It shouldn’t be a fixed age, it should be based on the number of years you have paid into the NI system. When you hit your quota, you get your pension.”
Another fuming viewer blamed government spending for any future deficits, exclaiming: “There is plenty of money for pensions but the government just gave it to Mauritius for something we already owned!”
It wouldn’t be inevitable if we stopped letting in millions of scroungers escaping ‘war torn’ European countries or weren’t destroying manufacturing jobs with net zero,” a third agreed, “adding: “Labour have just promised Mauritius at least £30 billion. They’ve committed billions to Ukraine for 100 years.”
GB News exposes Donald Trump mistake as Americans flee US for UK
US citizens are allegedly fleeing Donald Trump’s America (Image: Getty)
GB News host Stephen Dixon spoke this morning to Jennifer Ewing, a British-based Californian and spokeswoman for Republicans Overseas UK, about the alleged “mass exodus”. He quizzed: “Are we seeing a wave of people heading over from the States, desperate to be British, to get away from Trump?”
Between March 2024 and March 2025, official statistics published by the Home Office showed that more than 6,000 US citizens applied to move to Britain – the highest amount since records began more than two decades ago. Nearly 2,000 of these citizenship bids have been submitted in the short few months since Donald Trump took office – so does Jennifer think there’s a connection? The correspondent suggested that Americans are warming to the “glamorous” culture here in Britain and enjoying high-profile events such as Wimbledon and Ascot.
The migration debate took place on GB News today (Image: GB NEWS)
She also suggested that the UK had become a “top choice” for students, while business interests remain a huge draw too.
Stephen raised his eyebrows as he questioned whether Americans were looking for sanctuary and the security of dual citizenship options, amid an increasingly tense and polarised political climate there.
However, Jennifer sat on the fence, insisting that the choices weren’t “necessarily political” – and she listed one major reason that may deter US citizens from relocating to Britain, too.
She confessed one burning question fellow Americans have been asking her is: “Are people really getting tossed in prison or arrested for tweets or for attending rallies and political engagements?”
GB News’ Stephen Dixon posed the queston of what effect Trump is having on migration to the UK (Image: GB NEWS)
It comes after a 39-year-old British man was jailed for more than seven years for “encouraging violent disorder” after making comments on social media about the Southport killings, as just one example.
Trump also recently sent a free speech delegation team to talk with five British activists who found themselves arrested after silently praying outside abortion clinics due to their pro-life beliefs.
“Americans don’t understand: how can you be arrested or worse for praying silently?” she exclaimed, adding: “In America we have the free speech 1st Amendment and we don’t have laws [against] free speech.”
However, over on X, one viewer shot back: “I’ve actually had conversations with Americans who have recently emigrated here. They think because we elected Labour that we’re a leftist country who doesn’t share the same views that MAGA does. Well they’ll soon be leaving once Reform is elected in 4 years time.”
Another added: “Lunatic liberals fleeing to the UK? I believe it.”
