POLITICIANS are ignoring pensioners at their peril, says Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman.

He has called for new policies to respond to the needs of those who are of retirement age or who have retired early.

"For too long all political parties have taken pension age too much for granted and accepted a rather narrow stereotype of the pension profile," he said.

"Pensioners today are well educated, knowledgeable and informed and above all are active participatory citizens in local and national democracies."

Mr Sheerman said he had recently met a group of Huddersfield pensioners who had travelled to London to lobby parliament.

He said they were an articulate, committed and determined group and they represent a vital section of the community.

Mr Sheerman said the needs of pensioners should be properly addressed under a spectrum of economic and social policies.

Those who wanted to continue to work should do so but not in low paid and routine jobs.

"Many of our pensioners are experienced professionals whose knowledge can be passed on to younger people and this can be a crucial role for our economy," he added.