Labour's got a record to be proud of when it comes to helping the elderly.

Of course our senior citizens deserve the best, and we need to do more. I'm the first to admit that. But the Labour Party values pensioners when the Conservatives see them as a cost to be cut.

We're living longer and staying fitter yet all of us will grow old, deserving security and dignity in our later years. All of us want our parents cared for as much as our parents cared for us.  

The progress of recent years didn't happen by accident.

It was a Labour Government which introduced Winter Fuel Allowances. Payments of £250, or £400 if someone's over-80, go to nearly 18,000 Jarrow pensioners and almost 33,000 across South Tyneside.

Then there's free bus travel to wherever the over-60s want to go plus TV licences for over-75s. Pension credits guarantee none of our elderly live on less than £132.60 a week from this month.

I promise to fight hard to raise that but don't forget it's nearly double the £69 under the Tories. Would Conservatives slavering over slashing public spending put up pensions 2.5% this month? Of course they wouldn't.

Labour spends in all £13billion more on pensioners than the Conservatives did, even after inflation's taken into account. The elderly depend on a National Health Service we've made better - and would make better still if re-elected.

Gordon Brown's pledged to restore a link between the state pension and earnings broken by the Conservatives. And we'll introduce a National Care Service alongside the NHS to look after people in their homes, when possible, if they're infirm.

The Tory response was a despicable tombstone poster campaign which plummeted a new low in political smears. I could list other things Labour's done for the over-60s but you probably know what they are. Elections are a choice between what Labour and the Conservatives would do for you and your family.

So if you value a payment or policy, vote Labour or the Tories might take it away.