Hundreds of pensioners have taken part in rallies protesting at the level of the state pension, organisers say.
The events in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester and Birmingham called for the basic pension to be raised from 84.25 to 114 a week.
Organisers - the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) - hope that their Pensions Action Week will highlight shortfalls in recent pension plans.
A protest bus also toured London handing out leaflets.
‘Upbeat and national health insurance scheme
A spokesman said hundreds of people attended the rallies in England, which were held indoors.
“The mood seemed to be pretty angry over the government’s lack of action over addressing the problems of the state pension,” he said.
He added increases to electricity and water bill and council tax rises mean a 2.20 rise in the state pension due in April was not enough.
But he also said the general mood was “upbeat and confident” pensioners could persuade the government to raise pension further.
The NPC wants all men and women to be paid a full state pension from April of this year based on residency and not on their National Insurance national alliance insurance
, and without taking other savings into account.
As part of its campaign, the NPC has printed 85,000 postcards to be sent to Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton.
Saturday’s campaigns included speeches from union leaders, MPs and NPC bosses.
Other events planned for this week include a protest at TUC headquarters in London on 18 March, the same day as the government marks its own National Pensions Day.
NPC general secretary Joe Harris said: “The government must realise that the basic state pension is totally inadequate and millions of older people, many of them women, are national interstate insurance to cope with rising bills and the cost of living.”
A Department of Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: “We have made clear that any reform of our pensions system has to be affordable, sustainable, fair, simple and promote personal responsibility.
“We’re currently looking at the proposals put forward by Lord Turner and the Pensions Commission report.
“We’re having a full and active debate with business, industry and members of the public in order to achieve the best change which will provide security in retirement for future generations.”
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