The votes of the older generation always play a key part in deciding any election. With a variety of marginal seats in south Essex, we asked a crucial part of the electorate – pensioners – how they would vote and what they would like to see from a new government.

So what do the main players have to offer?

THE Tories will increase the inheritance tax threshold on family homes to £1million by 2017.

The party will continue to increase the state pension through the triple lock system, meaning it rises by at least 2.5 per cent. Other pledges include capping charges on residential care, introducing a single-tier pension, and protection pensioner benefits, such as free bus passes and winter fuel payments.

LABOUR insists it will invest £2.5billion more than the Tories into the NHS, to recruit 8,000 more GPs, 20,000 more nurses, and 3,000 extra midwives.

The group has said that under their watch, state pensions will increase by 2 per cent each year, minimum. Pension tax relief will be restricted, and winter fuel payments will be axed for the top 5 per cent beneficiaries.

Energy bills will be frozen until 2017.

UNDER the Lib Dems, state pensions will increase by a minimum of 2.5per cent. There will be a move towards a single rate of tax relief for pensions.

As part of increasing the NHS budget by £8billion a year by 2020, the party will introduce a package of support for carers. It will withdraw eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment and free TV Licence from pensioners who pay tax at the higher rate.

THE anti-EU party UKIP says it will invest more than £12billion a year into the NHS by 2020.

It aims to keep the free bus pass, winter fuel allowance, free TV licence and free prescriptions and eye test schemes for all pensioners, without means testing.

The group wants to integrate social care and health, bringing both under the umbrella of the NHS. Social care funding will be increased by some £500million by 2015.

The Greens have plans to invest £45billion in a free nationwide retrofit insulation programme to make nine million homes warmer, and lift two million households out of fuel poverty.

They will also look to provide free social care for people at the end of life and subsidise public transport and return the railways to national ownership The party aims to close taxation loopholes and crack down on tax.

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