• I AM not one of the Labour government’s repeatedly proclaimed working people. I am one of the well over 10 million retired ones.

Since I retired, over two decades ago, I have been actively engaged in contributing to the wider community as chair of a local primary school, chair of a community centre, a prison visitor and chair of visitors to police custody suites, to name but four.

I even participated in numerous election campaigns on behalf of their party.

None of this is, of course, paid.

My previous 38-year working life was all in the public sector, including working as part of British aid to two of our post-colonial countries.

My community contribution was recognised by the Crown with an MBE and even by the Greater London Authority and council with various awards.

There are, I am sure, many of the non-working class with similar records.

I am financially independent, thanks to my pensions and do not need to be part of the “working people” group. In any case as a disabled octogenarian I would find it difficult to get a job.

Given this apparent attitude of the Labour Party to the retired group, and in particular those within it who prop up our creaking public services, is it no wonder that it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit volunteers from among them?

MICK FARRANT, NW5