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| Cameron sees 'ageing UK' benefits | Cameron sees 'ageing UK' benefits |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| An attitude change is needed to ensure Britain's ageing population is a boost not a burden to the economy, says Conservative leader David Cameron. | An attitude change is needed to ensure Britain's ageing population is a boost not a burden to the economy, says Conservative leader David Cameron. |
| Mr Cameron, who will give a speech to Age Concern later, says that as 11m baby boomers became pensioners, British society would undergo a "big change". | Mr Cameron, who will give a speech to Age Concern later, says that as 11m baby boomers became pensioners, British society would undergo a "big change". |
| "We have to make sure this is an opportunity, a benefit... rather than a cost," Mr Cameron told the BBC. | |
| He also brushed off a poll suggesting his approval rating had slipped. | |
| One in six people is currently aged 65 or over, but it is predicted that within 30 years it will be more than one in four. | One in six people is currently aged 65 or over, but it is predicted that within 30 years it will be more than one in four. |
| We have to change our approach and our attitude and our behaviour towards older people David Cameron | We have to change our approach and our attitude and our behaviour towards older people David Cameron |
| In a speech to Age Concern, Mr Cameron will say over-50s who continue to work could boost the economy by as much as £30m - helping to offset the cost of additional care for an ageing population. | In a speech to Age Concern, Mr Cameron will say over-50s who continue to work could boost the economy by as much as £30m - helping to offset the cost of additional care for an ageing population. |
| "We have to change our approach and our attitude and our behaviour towards older people in order to reap the benefits of an older and more mature society" | |
| Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether he would abolish the civil service retirement age of 60 years, he said: "I think we should look at these things and that's not a pledge I can make today." | |
| 'No credibility' | 'No credibility' |
| Mr Cameron was also asked about an Ipsos Mori survey for the Financial Times, which suggested his approval rating had slipped - particularly among women voters. | |
| "If I reacted to every poll, I would be in a right old mess," he told the BBC, about the poll in which 2,014 were interviewed face-to-face between October 12 and 16.. | |
| "Polls come and polls go, frankly," he said, adding it would be "very, very hard work" for the Tories to prove themselves worthy of people's trust. | |
| Pensions Minister James Purnell said Labour had legislated to outlaw age discrimination at work and were committed to helping those who want to work for longer. | Pensions Minister James Purnell said Labour had legislated to outlaw age discrimination at work and were committed to helping those who want to work for longer. |
| He said: "Just weeks ago, the Tories were trying to appeal to young people by saying the baby boomer generation had too much power and influence. | |
| "But this week David Cameron is making a speech to older people so he gives them a different message." | |
| The government's life expectancy figures show that in 1981 a man aged 65 could expect to live, on average, for another 13 years. | The government's life expectancy figures show that in 1981 a man aged 65 could expect to live, on average, for another 13 years. |
| But by 2004 that had risen by nearly four years to 16.7 years. | But by 2004 that had risen by nearly four years to 16.7 years. |