The Conservatives have promised to restore the link between state pensions and earnings in a bid to win over the grey vote.

Having already made a strong pitch to older people this week, Michael Howard is hoping to extend his reach to the baby boom generation coming up for retirement, and to younger people beginning to worry about their finances as concern mounts over Britain's pensions black hole.

Launching the latest policy initiative at a press conference in central London, Howard said: "People will face a clear choice at the election: Conservatives who will give pensioners dignity, security and respect by increasing the state pension and cutting their council tax or Mr Blair, who will forget them and raise their council tax."