14 March 2008
Family doctors won their High Court legal fight yesterday, when
the High Court ruled that the government had no power to cap their
pensions. GPs retiring between 2004 and 2006 had their pensions
capped after earnings from the new contract rocketed and ministers
argued they had to cap pensions to protect the taxpayer.
However, Lord Justice Mitting yesterday ruled that ministers had
no power to impose the limit, which was an attempt "to renegotiate
an agreement that had already been determined."
Mr Justice Mitting awarded the British Medical Association its
costs but gave the government, leave to appeal.
