I recently spoke in a House of Commons debate on the need for a dedicated Minister for Older People in the Cabinet. This has been called for by the ‘Grey Pride’ campaign, and backed by more than 137,000 people who have signed the campaign’s petition.

I want to see the issues affecting older people move from the sidelines to the centre of policy and national life. The Leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband has already appointed me as the Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, attending the Shadow Cabinet.

I hope that the Prime Minister David Cameron follows suit. You can read the reasons for this in my speech in Parliament here.