CAMPAIGNERS have accused the UK Government of “forcing us to work until we drop” ahead of delivering a petition demanding a halt any further rises to the state pension age.

The Scottish Pensioners’ Forum (SPF) together with Unite the Union Retired Members and the National Pensioners Convention will today hold a demonstration outside Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh, the UK Government’s flagship office.

They will hand over a petition with more than 33,000 signatures demanding that there be an end to any further increase of the age when people can claim their state pension, which is currently 66.

This is due to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028 and then to 68 between 2044 and 2046.

A government review in 2017 suggested bringing the latter forward to the late 2030s – but this decision has been postponed until after the next election.

Rose Jackson, SPF chair, said: “The UK state pension is already on its knees, being one of the lowest in the developed world, and yet the UK Government are determined to rob us blind – forcing us to work until we drop.

“Workers should not be made to pay for decades of politicians’ bad choices. Older people deserve dignity, respect and financial security, now and for generations to come.

READ MORE: Protest set for Westminster over plans to raise retirement age to 68

“The profits of the UK’s largest companies are now 89% higher than before the pandemic, but workers aren’t seeing any of this.

Workplace pensions have been raided, life expectancy is no longer rising, the NHS has been cut to the bone and wages are failing to keep pace with the rising cost of living – and yet politicians in power continue to chip away at what is rightfully ours – we can’t just sit back and take this.

“The state pension should not be raided – workers create the wealth of our society and deserve a fairer future.”