A MASS pensions protest could see thousands of senior citizens give Labour a battering in York by refusing to vote at the next General Election, a leading pensioner has warned.

Don Parlabean, a former York city councillor and acting chairman of York Older People's Assembly, said pensioners refusing to vote at May's local elections contributed to Labour's heavy defeat.

He said that unless the Government gave senior citizens a fair deal on pension payments, older residents in York could hit the city's Labour MP Hugh Bayley by staying at home, or "striking".

He has put his concerns in an open letter, sent to Prime Minister Tony Blair, and York area MPs, including Mr Bayley and his Labour colleague, Selby MP John Grogan.

Mr Parlabean said: "There are a lot of older people in York who vote for Hugh Bayley. They are not voting for the party, they are voting for the man. He is a good constituency MP.

"If older people continue to feel they are not being listened to by Labour they will continue to withhold their vote."

Mr Parlabean said Labour councillors in York had won the support of many of the city's older residents over the years.

But he said anger over a rise in council tax quickly followed by a below-inflation pension increase led to many senior citizens deciding not to vote in May's local elections.

Senior citizens in other areas of the country have organised themselves into campaign groups and are set to hold high profile protests.

Mr Parlabean said: "Although they cannot strike by withholding their labour, older people can withhold their vote. That is what is likely to happen."

Mr Grogan said: "It would be a matter of concern if older people stopped voting. Statistically, they are much more likely to vote than young people. Labour in Selby is completely dependent on people who are retired or of pensionable age.

"One thing coming soon is the pension credit, hopefully without the administrative difficulties the family credit had."

Mr Bayley said today that pensioners' incomes had risen under a series of Labour initiatives, including increases in the winter fuel allowance and the minimum income guarantee.

He urged pensioners to contact him to discuss their concerns.

Updated: 11:06 Monday, September 29, 2003