A local Labour activist has said it is ordinary people who will pay the price for the Government’s changes to the pension age.

Labour said more than seven million people will lose out by £10,000 each under plans for the state pension age to change to 68. The change will affect all men and women currently between 39 and 47.

The party has criticised the announcement, pointing out it followed well-publicised comments from Professor Sir Michael Marmot who recently said a century-long rise in life expectancy was “pretty close to having ground to a halt”. Labour said Professor Marmot pointed to 2010, when the Government began its austerity programme, as the turning point.

Chris Cuddihee, chairman of South West Devon Labour Party said: "The Government’s sudden and unexpected announcement that they will raise the state pension qualifying age to 68 from 2037 will affect an estimated 9,500 working people and their families in Ivybridge, Plympton, Plymstock and across South West Devon. Every person born between 1970 and 1978 will lose nearly £10,000 as a result of this decision.

"It’s typical of Theresa May and her Conservatives that they introduce a change like this by the back door, right at the end of a Parliamentary session without debate in the House of Commons. The Tories always find money for tax cuts for corporations and their rich friends and now have found money for a bung to the DUP.

"But it’s always ordinary people who pay the price in the end."

But South West Devon conservative MP Gary Streeter said: "I support the changes. We are giving 20-plus years notice to help people plan and adjust. One of the reasons the recent curve has been so steep is that the Labour government of 1997 to 2010 did not take the tough long term decisions.

"I have no doubt our life expectancy continues to increase, and we have to make the necessary financial changes."

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary said: “This is a disgraceful and unjustified attack on the state pension by this government, who are asking millions of people to work longer to pay for their failing austerity plans.

“The latest research on life expectancy, published days ago, shows that there is no evidential basis for bringing the state pension age further forward.

“That’s why Labour wants to take a measured approach, leaving the state pension age at 66 while we review the evidence emerging around life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, considering how we can best protect those doing demanding jobs and the contributions they have already made.”