Peter Lilley, MP for Hitchin, called for people to stick to argument, not striking . He told The Comet: I think it s perverse that this sort of dispute should be taken out at the expense of the general public. There s legitimate arguments on both sides

Peter Lilley, MP for Hitchin, called for people to "stick to argument, not striking".

He told The Comet: "I think it's perverse that this sort of dispute should be taken out at the expense of the general public.

"There's legitimate arguments on both sides although I tend to think we've got to accept that as people live longer they must work a bit longer to pay for an even longer retirement."

Mr Lilley said he hasn't had much feedback from constituents inconvenienced by the strikes, but said: "If it didn't have an effect, what was the point, and if it did, what was the justification?

"I would stick to argument, not striking. A lot of people they're inconveniencing do already have to work five years longer than they do.