Talking about our golden generation

The National Pensioner’s Convention’s ‘Pensioner’s Parliament’ is widely known as one of the most important annual events in promoting the opinions of Britain’s older population.

Pensioners marched through the streets of the resort at the start of the three-day long meeting, where NPC representatives will discuss social issues affecting elderly people - including healthcare, technology, and the state pension - at the Winter Gardens.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, national officer for the Pensioner’s Parliament, said: “We represent the voices of older people in Britian, especially those who are on lower incomes.

“This week we will be discussing the NHS, social issues such as the state pension, and of course social isolation and the impact technology has on this.

“There will be lots of talk over the next three days. The Pensioner’s Parliament has a very special relationship with Blackpool.

“It all started 25 years ago when our former president Jack Jones came up with the idea of using the Winter Gardens as our venue.

“It’s a fantastic building and people like the atmosphere.

“We’re expecting 500 to 800 people to take part over the three days. We have a strong Blackpool following but people come from all over the country.

“If we don’t speak up for ourselves who else is going to do it?

“Pensioners feel the best way of getting their voices across is having an organisation that is run by them and speaks for them, and that is what these three days are all about.”