May I suggest that all employees in the private sector who have paid National Insurance contributions for at least 40 years and who have not yet reached the retirement age of 61 be allowed to retire immediately, provided their employer takes on someone who is over 40 and registering for work to replace them.

Such employees who retire before they reach retirement age would not lose any benefits to which they are entitled and can thus enjoy their pension a bit earlier and make way for unemployed over-40s who have difficulty ­finding a job.

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