Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford candidate Yvette Cooper said local pensioners must be at the heart of the election campaign.

Serving up lunch at the Thornycroft Centre in Pontefract, Yvette also served up some welcome news to older members of the community highlighting that the state pension and pension credit had increased again this month.

Yvette pledged to fight for a fairer future for pensioners around here by backing restoring the link between pensions and earnings and banning unfair age discrimination - which can stop older people getting access to job opportunities and insurance packages.

Yvette promised Labour would continue to help pensioners by supporting free bus passes, the Winter Fuel Allowance, free swimming in local pools and reducing the pensioner poverty.

She warned that Conservative cuts to public services would hurt local older people.

Yvette said:

“Older members of our community deserve dignity and respect. That’s why I will always back extra support for local pensioners. So many people have told me how much they value their free bus passes and the extra support to pay their heating bills over winter. I think it is wrong to make cuts now and hit local services older people rely on.”