A landmark ruling by the UK Supreme Court says that employers can force workers to retire at age 65.

It could be argued that people working beyond normal retirement age prevent younger people from getting a job.

But when governments and bankers have destroyed pensions, you can hardly blame folk for wanting to keep going.

Now, not only have they lost a huge chunk of their pension through no fault of their own, they are also prevented from making up the shortfall by being forced to retire.

It is sensible for planning that a business can make people retire at the retirement age as long as they are given enough notice. Just because you work for a company for a long time, does not entitle you to a lifelong job. You get pay, they get work.

Surely, expanding the business is a better way of employing young people.

It would create openings for younger staff positions as people retire and others are promoted.

But also, we are all living longer and healthier lives, so we need to work longer if we can. If the older people find alternative paid work, I see nothing wrong with that as well.

And I would also say, if people had their health intact, the mortgage paid off, a nice company pension and savings in the bank, with professional skills, they would make for a great army of volunteers in their communities, because we need the older people’s life experiences and skills to guide us.

Coun Salim Mulla, Blackburn.