pension

The protests first erupted on Saturday 20 September, triggered by a pension reform passed earlier this month under which young people will be required to pay into a private pension fund.

"That group is much less because, what we find, the state pension system works well - whereas the benefits system is still deficient," he said.

"It's just frankly not good enough," he said, adding that the department and the pension scheme needed to "get to grips" with the problems and accelerate resolving some of the queries.

In the meantime, the party insists the unit's work is ongoing, pointing to deputy leader Richard Tice's recent announcement about local government pension schemes.

Five years later the pair decided to move into their daughter's house near Saffron Walden, Essex, and rent out their home in June 2023, hoping the income would add to their pension.