Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Struggling to buy a home? Dip into your parents' pensions, says Clegg

 

Oliver Wright
Monday 24 September 2012 02:20 EDT
Comments
He had the flowers to hand, but Nick Clegg was in no mood to add
to last week’s mea culpa as he faced awkward questions over his
leadership at the Lib Dem party conference yesterday
He had the flowers to hand, but Nick Clegg was in no mood to add to last week’s mea culpa as he faced awkward questions over his leadership at the Lib Dem party conference yesterday (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Up to a quarter of a million parents will be able to use savings tied up in their pension funds to secure home deposits for their children, the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, announced yesterday.

Under the plan, unveiled at his party's conference in Brighton, workers will be able to use any lump sum element of their pension and offset it against the cost of a deposit. Party sources admitted that the details had yet to be agreed with lenders and pension fund providers, as many were cautious. Parents could lose all or part of their pension fund pot if house prices fell or children defaulted on their mortgage payments.

Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, will unveil a £1bn fund to supply loans to small businesses at the conference today. "We are so good at so many things in this country – but for too long the mirage of growth based on property speculation and financial gambling has hidden the harder virtues of making things productively," Mr Cable will say.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in