𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Britain’s getting older and the demographic timebomb is ticking. We’re all doomed. At least, that’s what our government thinks. But I suspect this is just an excuse to put our taxes up. Ignore the negative nancies who worry about our ageing country. An older population is exactly what we need to get us out of our multi-year slump.

I’m 60 now, and don’t you dare tell me that I’m about to become a burden. I’ve literally never been so energetic, driven and ambitious and there are millions of us out there – strong and ready to contribute. HM Treasury is plain wrong to assume older people will become more of a burden. Evidence emerging in Britain and elsewhere shows that oldies are working past 65 and well into their 70s. They’re paying even more tax and, importantly, they’re helping businesses to make profits and create jobs.

Andy Burnham and John Healey just don’t get this because they’re living in the past and instead of freeing up experienced workers they prefer to raise taxes. They waffle about skills shortages in nursing, engineering and the trades. Clearly we need to coax our amazing retired talent out there back into work. So many skilled people retired too soon and could easily graft one, two or three days a week – bringing precious experience and a bygone work ethic to workplaces.

It’s an economic crime to throw 30 years of experience into the bin. Imagine the midwives, the teachers and joiners who retired despite being fit, strong and energetic. Why doesn’t our Chancellor give them some encouragement back to part time work – in the form of even minor tax incentives? They’ll pay tax on their earnings, spend the rest and bring priceless skills that make businesses more profitable. Everyone wins.

An older Britain is a much safer Britain too. Crimes of all types are committed much more frequently by younger people. Government data shows that over-65s make up almost 20% of the population but commit just 1.5% of offences. Imagine how peaceful our streets will become!

But there’s another big benefit too – even a modest reduction in crime could slash the costs of policing, courts and prisons. The total economic and social cost of crime is estimated at £100billion a year – even a 10% fall in crime could bring us an annual £10billion windfall paying for stronger borders, safer streets and even tax cuts.

The over-65s are already fantastic for our country in every way. They are the volunteers, charity helpers and community stalwarts who quietly make Britain work. Official figures show that 42% of 65 to 74-year-olds volunteer at least once a month. And they’re more likely to donate to charity too.

Having millions more of these energetic superstars across Britain means the demographic timebomb is actually a golden opportunity to help all age groups. More and more children and young adults will have valuable experience around them from grandparents, older neighbours and mentors, helping them build successful lives and careers. Expensive childcare will be less needed, and the estimated £8billion-a-year filip that grandparents add to the economy in the form of childcare will get even bigger.

It just isn’t true that the older generation will be taking from the young. The younger people coming through now could be the luckiest generation ever, enjoying an abundance of resources, skills and support from older colleagues, families and friends. The impact on their careers, earnings and wealth could be amazing.

Of course, it’s undeniable that the old, and the very young, disproportionately use the NHS. I don’t think that will change. But advances in medicine, therapies and technology mean that far more treatment will happen at home instead of in hospital. We’ll visit hospital less often and, when we do, we’ll spend fewer nights there. Thankfully, the cost pressures of looking after older people should be much lower than forecast as we stay fitter and stronger for longer.

It’s crystal clear Britain as an older place will be so much better. And we have to stop seeing an ageing population as a negative. Older people will be the workers, the taxpayers, the mentors and the volunteers who make Britain richer. More maturity is a great thing, and we need Andy Burnham to privately and publicly recognise this.

Andy Preston is a former fund manager and was the elected mayor of Middlesbrough from 2019 to 2023