Mulholland pleased to see timely progress on fixed retirement age, an issue long overdue

1.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 30th Jul 2010

Greg Mulholland MP welcomed the recent coalition Government announcement that it plans to scrap the fixed retirement age from October 2011.

Greg, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ageing and Older People and former Lib Dem Older People's Spokesperson, has long promoted older people's issues and rights both locally and in Westminster.

Commenting Greg said:

"I am very pleased at this decision, and encouraged to see that a clear date has been set for it to take effect. It is far past due that older people who want to continue working be freed from facing arbitrary, age-based dismissal.

"I have campaigned against a fixed retirement age for a long time. People deserve the right to choose; they shouldn't be compelled to work past 65, but if they want to do so, that should be their prerogative.

"The fixed retirement age did not make sense. People are living longer and abolishing a default retirement age will take pressure off the pensions problem as well."

Ends