Frank O'Donnell

A review of the retirement age would allow individuals to work into their 70s or 80s as Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman today announces a fast-track government review.

She wants to scrap the age 65 retirement rule to give people the option of working into their 70s or 80s, although it would not be compulsory to do so. Harman told the Daily Mail that she plans to overhaul the law to dispel the myth that people are ‘past it’ once they reach 65.

‘The retirement age is arbitrary, it bears no relation to people’s ability. Think of people running their own business – they don’t shut up shop suddenly when they reach the age of 65,’ Harman told the paper.

Harman also wants to give older people the right to request flexible hours from their employer.

‘We do want people, if they want to, to be able to stay working for longer and flexible working is a way that enables them to do that,’ she said.

‘They could say they have decided they want to work three days a week and it would then be down to the employer to demonstrate why the business couldn’t cope with that.’

Any change in law would cover staff who have already signed contracts to say they will retire at 65.