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Andrew Harrop, head of policy at Age Concern England, said:
"Forcing talented people to retire at 65 is a terrible waste for employers and an insult to older workers. Since we began this case we've heard from hundreds of people who have been forced to retire against their will. It's not just unfair, it can have a devastating impact on someone's income for the whole of their retirement."

Ailsa Ogilvie, director of Heyday, said:
"More people are working past retirement age either because they want to or because they have to. Our right to work should not be based on our birth certificates, but on ability and motivation. Yet some employers don't seem to value the knowledge and skills of older workers. Allowing employers to sack people at 65 completely contradicts the Government's wish for us to have longer working lives."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The judicial review against default retirement age was brought about by the National Council on Ageing, which operates under the names Age Concern and Heyday. It argues that the UK Government has improperly implemented the EU directive upon which the Age Regulations were based. The European Court of Justice hearing takes place on Wednesday 2 July and it is expected to publish its judgement before the end of the year, when it will be referred back to the High Court, London.  
 

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