Conservative candidate for North West Leicestershire, Craig Smith, has criticised a Labour advisor describing pensioners as 'codgers'.

The Leicestershire County Councillor said the remarks made by one of Labour Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, advisors 'disgraceful' after he also called on them to pay more - calling measures currently in place to protect them 'a complete disgrace'.

 The comments were made by Sir Edward Troup who was announced just last month as part of a panel of experts appointed by the Shadow Chancellor.

Cllr Smith said "There is something that's disgraceful here and that is Sir Edward Troup's comments.

"The Conservative government has done so much work to lift pensioners out of poverty.

"It was David Cameron who introduced the pensions triple lock and every Conservative Prime Minister since has protected it.

"Now we have Labour advisors arguing for pensioners paying more tax and using disgraceful, disrespectful language in doing so. 

"Sir Keir Starmer has U-turned on every one of the pledges that made him Labour leader, he tries to say he's different but you just can't trust him.

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"The Labour Party can apply a bit of make up but underneath leopards don't change their spots, and Sir Edward Troup's comments really do show what Labour's spots really look like. Untrustworthy."