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It claims that  Kent and Medway loses thousands of able-bodied people to retirement every year.

Dr Hazel Dawe, Chair of Kent Green Party said: "I am very glad to see the European Court of Justice has challenged the UK Government to provide a policy reason why people should be retired at 65.

"The Court believes that age alone cannot be a reason for retirement. Local Government in Kent would grind to a halt if all the councillors aged over 65 were forced to retire. Similarly Westminster MPs have no fixed retirement age. Why should it be one rule for politicians and another for employees?

"We will not know the real potential of people in this country until we ensure an end to a fixed retirement age, and a guarantee of paid access to training or education - rather than unemployment - for all.

"At the moment, Government policy is holding the UK back denying skills and experience to both public and private sector employers. We commend those employers who actively recruit people aged over 65 already but the rest must now follow."