Poole MP pushes for ‘Progressive Pensions’ to align savings with social justice and climate goals
Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan says workers’ wages ‘shouldn’t be fuelling climate catastrophes’ or ‘invested in companies entangled in war crimes’
Last updated 26th Oct 2025
Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan has tabled a series of amendments to the Pension Schemes Bill as part of what he calls a campaign for “Progressive Pensions”.
It’s in an attempt to ensure that the UK’s vast pension wealth works in the interests of working people and the planet.
Private pension wealth accounts for 42% of total UK household wealth, and Duncan-Jordan argues that any serious effort to “rewire the economy” must consider how this capital is used.
“The savings of working people represent one of the most powerful tools we have to build a fairer economy,” he said, “one that delivers dignity in retirement and invests in our collective future.”
The proposals include measures to strengthen worker representation, address long-standing pension injustices, and ensure that investments reflect social and environmental responsibility.
Under Amendment 1, local government pension pools would be required to include employee representatives on their boards - a move aimed at giving workers a direct voice in how their money is invested.
New Clause 18 seeks to tackle the erosion of pre-1997 occupational pensions, where the absence of mandatory inflation protection has left thousands of retirees worse off.
Duncan-Jordan has also tabled an Early Day Motion urging the government to work with companies to provide compensation.
New Clause 5 would compel ministers to review how effectively pension schemes invest for social good, highlighting potential in areas such as social housing and green technology.
“These are sectors that build a better future for the very people whose contributions fund them,” Duncan-Jordan said.
The MP has also called for investments to avoid companies implicated in human rights abuses.
Finally, he urges the government to divest from fossil fuels, arguing that workers’ wages shouldn’t be fuelling climate catastrophe especially as the UK transitions to a low-carbon economy.
Together, these measures form what Duncan-Jordan calls “a first step towards a fairer, greener, and more democratic pensions system.”