Alistair Darling: Wooing grey voters

Alistair Darling has urged Scotland's pensioners not to vote Conservative.

The Cabinet minister launched Scottish Labour's mini-manifesto in Aberdeen with a promise of "security and dignity in old age for all".

The Scotland secretary was due to be joined on the campaign trail by Peter Hain, the Wales secretary.

They contrasted the government's plan to give a £200 council tax rebate to all households where one member is over 65 with Conservative proposals which they said would not apply in Scotland.

"This election is a choice between two futures: A Labour future where there is security and dignity in old age for all Scots; and an uncertain future under the Tories," said Darling.

"We need more help for pensioners with additional aid for the poorest, we need to help older people to stay in work while they want to and we need to ensure that the public services older people rely on are properly funded.

"That will not happen if Michael Howard gets into number 10 on May 5."