YORK MP Hugh Bayley has appealed to his older constituents not to withhold their vote from Labour in a row over pension payments.

Mr Bayley made his call during a visit to a senior citizens' centre to highlight the Government's new Pension Credit, designed to boost the benefits received by middle-income pensioners. Mr Bayley chatted with visitors at St Sampson's Social Centre For Old People, in Church Street about the new initiative and a range of topics from winter fuel payments and TV licences to hospital waiting lists and student tuition fees.

The Evening Press reported on Monday that a former councillor and acting chairman of York Older People's Assembly, Don Parlabean, is calling for senior citizens to withhold their vote at the next General Election if Labour did not give them a fair deal on pensions.

Mr Bayley acknowledged that the council tax rise in York had hit the party at the polls but said single people had seen an above-inflation pension rise from £62.45 in 1997 to £102.45 today.

The former social security minister opposed calls to restore the link between pensions and earnings, saying: "As a socialist, I really believe the first responsibility must be to the poor." He urged pensioners not to withhold their vote as only Labour would deliver improvements and said they should find other ways to lobby Parliament.

To find out more about the new Pensions Credit scheme, phone freefone 0800 991234.

Updated: 10:31 Saturday, October 04, 2003