Terry Smith criticises Clegg's 'brain dead' pension idea

clock

Terry Smith has criticised Nick Clegg's "brain dead" idea to allow parents to use their pension to help their children on the "over-priced" property ladder.

Smith, founder of Fundsmith, said the deputy prime minister had "apparently come up with a brilliant idea" to allow parents and grandparents to use part of their lump sum from their pension entitlement to pay the deposit on their children's property purchases. "The ‘idea' of people who mostly already have inadequate pension provision using part of it to give their children a stake in what are almost certainly still over-priced houses in the UK beggars belief," Smith said. "It is yet another example of the obsession which UK politicians have with house prices. "They seem not to have...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Pensions

Just Group to exit direct-to-consumer business following Brookfield acquisition

Just Group to exit direct-to-consumer business following Brookfield acquisition

Move could lead to redundancies across the business

Holly Roach
clock 24 April 2026 • 1 min read
Government scales back mandation power proposals in Pension Schemes Bill amendment

Government scales back mandation power proposals in Pension Schemes Bill amendment

Bill continues through parliamentary 'ping pong' process

Holly Roach
clock 22 April 2026 • 2 min read
Pension providers called to fix consumer vulnerability gaps before targeted support rollout

Pension providers called to fix consumer vulnerability gaps before targeted support rollout

Pensions industry ‘well off the pace’ on vulnerability

Isabel Baxter
clock 22 April 2026 • 3 min read