Attack on strike plans

THE most senior Scottish MP in the government will today launch an assault on unions' attempts to derail reform of pensions in the public sector, saying that they have "buried their heads in the sand".

Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander is to give a keynote speech claiming that government policy is to make pension schemes sustainable.

He will attack a threat by two English teaching unions and the Public and Commercial Services union, representing civil servants, to strike on the issue.

In his speech to the Institute of Public Policy Research today he is to say: "There is an indisputable case for reforming public sector pensions to ensure that they are affordable and sustainable but still amongst the very best available.

"People are living much longer - the average 60 year old is living ten years longer than in the 70s. It is unjustifiable to ask the taxpayer to work longer and pay more so that public sector workers can retire earlier and receive more themselves."