TONY Blair's father-in-law has urged pensioners to unite and fight the Government to reinstate the link between earnings and the state pension.

Tony Booth was the principal speaker at a recent rally organised by the East Cleveland Pensioners' Forum.

A renowned Old Labour socialist, he was joined by BBC Radio Cleveland presenter Alan Wright, Coun David Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and John Batstone, national chairman of the National Association of British Steel Pensioners.

Mr Booth, an ardent spokesman for pensioners' rights, told the audience of over 300 that he was overwhelmed by the strength of feeling across all ages and social divisions for the reinstatement of the link.

He said: "This campaign is right and just and we are not going to go quietly away until we are satisfied."

Mr Booth said: ". There are 11 million pensioners and that is an awful lot of votes.

"We will fight, fight and fight until we have won.this battle for moral and social justice.