A CAMPAIGNING MP has taken the opportunity of the Tory leadership election to seek assurances that more than 500,000 UK Pensioners living overseas will finally get their state retirement payments increased,

Ribble Valley Conservative backbencher Nigel Evans is angry that four per cent of British elderly with homes abroad miss out on annual pension uprating despite having fully paid their qualifying National Insurance Contributions.

The 'freeze', which only applies to certain mainly Commonwealth countries, affects 510,000 UK pensioners.

Mr Evans said: “The leadership election taking place over the coming weeks will settle not only who leads the Conservative Party, but also who will become the next Prime Minister.

"Whoever this may be, they need tackle the issue of frozen pensions head-on, and I hope the frontrunners will make this into an election pledge.

“The government has estimated that the uprating of pensions would cost around £600million per year, but this cost is meagre compared to the money that the UK saves when pensioners move abroad and do not use our social services or NHS.

"This policy needs an urgent rethink and I will be putting pressure on the new leader to urgent adopt new legislation on the issue of frozen pensions.”