Tory voters and unions agree on something: Don’t raise pension age

A survey of more than 1,700 adults commissioned by three leading trade unions revealed that a clear majority were “uncomfortable” with plans to increase the retirement age to 67 between 2026 and 2028.

The YouGov poll comes ahead of a strike on Thursday, which will see job centres, tax offices and military sites affected by a walkout over pension cuts.

Almost four out of five of those questioned, and seven in 10 Tory voters, agreed that making Britons work longer than European workers to receive their state pension was unfair.

More than a third of Tory voters were also concerned that delaying retirement would mean fewer jobs for younger people and deny working people the opportunity to enjoy a well-earned retirement.

A similar number of Tory supporters, as well as a third of Lib Dem supporters and 37 per cent of Labour supporters, were unaware of plans to make people work longer.

Tory Scotland Office Minister David Mundell told The Scotsman that measures to make public-sector staff work longer, expected to be announced in tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech, were a “painful reality” and necessary to fund pensions.

He said: “I understand why people don’t want the pension age to increase, but there is a consensus across the parties that with rising life expectancy, we are not going to be in a position to pay pensions if we don’t increase the retirement age.”

However, the proposals were heavily criticised by public-sector trade union leaders.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, said: “In an economy that can afford tax breaks for the very rich, it ought to be a national scandal that the rest of us are being forced to work so much longer.”

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, said: “This government is determined to strip workers of the entitlement to a retirement that is dignified.”

Unite’s leader, Len McCluskey, added: “Making British people work until they drop is another hijacking of our living standards and shows no care for ordinary people.” SNP MSP John Wilson warned the UK would fall further behind the rest of Europe on pension entitlement, after newly-elected French president Francois Hollande said he would reduce the retirement age from 62 to 60.

Mr Wilson, deputy convenor of Holyrood’s economy committee, said: “If seven out of 10 Tory voters disagree with this, then it’s a clear indication that the UK government is out of step with its own supporters.

“It’s clear from the election results in France that the debate on the retirement age will resurface on the European agenda.

“The UK government should come to an understanding with other European countries on the best way to deal with the issue.”