A leading Councillor in the region has warned that hundreds of jobs would be lost and tens of thousands of pensioner incomes hit, if Conservative plans to end pension credit go ahead.

North Tyneside Councillor Ian Grayson said that Conservative plans to end pensions credit in favour of establishing a link with earnings would hit the regions poorest, very hard.

Ian Grayson said, “Thousands of pensioners across the region are now being helped by pension credit of more than £40 a week. Ending Pension Credit would hit them hard and reverse the good work this government has done to lift 2 million pensioners out of poverty.”

Ian Grayson raised the issue when Ian McCartney Labour Party Chairman and former pensions Minister visited the North East last week.

Ian Grayson also warned about the knock on effect on jobs. He said “Hundreds of jobs would be lost at places like Longbenton with every constituency across the region likely to be affected. For the Tories to applaud new Tax Credit jobs coming to the region while planning to get rid of them is dishonest. The Tories need to come clean about the effect of their pension’s policy on pensioner incomes and on jobs.”