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Shadow work and pensions minister Alex Cunningham said the state pension age should reflect people’s health, income and the nature of their employment. The state pension age is currently 67 and it is set to rise to 68 in 2037, affecting people under the age of 47. Mr Cunningham said: "The man in the poor ward may have started work at 16 and paid national insurance contributions throughout his adult life, and is more likely to have been in a physically demanding job and to have experienced ill health at a younger age. "He may even be lucky to get the state pension for a handful of years before dying.

GETTY The state pension age is currently 67 and it is set to rise to 68 in 2037

“Contrast that with a more affluent, professional person, who may not have started work until his 20s, who retired at 60 because he could afford to, and who then picked up his state pension when he was still fit and healthy enough to enjoy it." The shadow work and pensions minister added: "The proposal to raise the state pension age even further all but wipes out the chances of many of our people enjoying a few years of retirement in good health. “The state pension should be flexible and recognise the contribution that people have made to our country, and the system should be designed to work for everyone." However, current pensions minister Guy Opperman hit back by bringing up a recent review by John Cridland which recommended that the state pension age should remain.

Mr Opperman said: "The reality is that life expectancy has increased repeatedly across the country. “It most definitely has increased across the country in all socioeconomic groups over the past 30 years, and for all constituent countries of the UK. “Mr Cridland, who was independent, did extensive work on that point, concluding that a universal state pension age remained the best system, and the Government agree with that point." Mr Cunnigham’s words have comes after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn earlier this week claimed elderly people in Britain were not receiving the care they need.

Labour's wild night party in pictures Tue, September 26, 2017 Labour's Annual Conference takes place every Autumn and is one of the largest and most high profile political events in Europe Play slideshow Jeremy Selwyn / Evening Standard / eyevine 1 of 19

The Labour leader’s criticism followed the Government announcing the Budget on Wednesday. He said: “Over a million of our elderly are not receiving the care they need.” Mr Corbyn was interrupted by an opposing MP in the Commons before he hit back. He said: “Over £6billion will have been cut from social care budgets by next March.

GETTY Jeremy Corbyn this week claimed elderly people in Britain were not receiving the care they need