Jeremy Corbyn today slammed a shock plan by Iain Duncan Smith's think tank to hike the state pension age to 75.

Labour's leader joined condemnation of the "discriminatory" proposal by the Centre for Social Justice – which is chaired by the Tory former welfare chief.

He told an audience in Northamptonshire: " Labour won’t tell people they have to work until they are 75 before getting their pension, as Iain Duncan Smith’s think tank has suggested.

"A policy that discriminates against working class people – especially those in manual jobs.

"And that's from the man who brought us Universal Credit and a number of other things. We're not having any of that."

Under government plans, the state pension age is set to rise from 66 to 67 for both men and women between 2026 and 2028. It is then set to hit 68 in the 2030s and 69 in the 2040s.

But the CSJ think tank recommended a massive acceleration of the rise to 70 by 2028 and 75 by 2035.

The report said it should come with measures to soften the blow including better access to training and flexible work, tailored 'mid-life MOTs' and better occupational health.

The CSJ said the pensions bill has ballooned from £17billion in 1989 to £92billion now.

It said of the proposed rise: "While this might seem contrary to a long-standing compassionate attitude to an older generation that have paid their way in the world and deserve to be looked after, we do not believe it should be.

"Working longer has the potential to improve health and wellbeing, increase retirement savings and ensure the full functioning of public services for all."

Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said the think tank plan was not government policy, and it was "scaremongering" to suggest it was.

She added: "The State Pension age is 68 which is fair, sustainable and affordable for all generations.

"This Government is helping millions of people enjoy a secure retirement."

A No10 spokeswoman added: “These are proposals from a think tank and they aren’t proposals that reflect Government policy." She said “we don’t have plans to increase the pension age" beyond those already announced.

But Labour raised fears as the CSJ has in the past been influential on Tory policy and proposed Universal Credit.

Labour MP David Lammy said: "The average life expectancy in this country is 81. In Glasgow, it’s 71 for men.

"State pension policy won’t affect people like IDS. But it will affect those who will now be working until the day they die."

Source: Read Full Article