'Grey' vote key to winning election

Researchers at Leicester's De Montfort University found that 319 of the 632 seats in England, Scotland and Wales are likely to have "grey majorities" turning out to vote, including 94 of the marginal constituencies which will determine the result.

Overall, four out of 10 votes across the country will be cast by over-55s, said Dr Scott Davidson, who led the study.

The figures emerged as charity Age UK launched its Our Power is Our Number campaign, urging older people to use their vote and ensure candidates engage with issues which are important to them.

Michelle Mitchell, charity director of Age UK – formed by the merger of Age Concern England with Help the Aged – said: "The success of any party in this election depends on their commitment to act on the issues which are most important to older people, who are more likely to vote than any other age group. Older people are fed up with second-class services and we will support them to demand action from their local candidates on care, age discrimination, the NHS and pensions."

The report found that, of the 94 constituencies with majorities under 5,000 where older people are likely to form a majority of voters, 38 are held by Labour, 34 by the Conservatives, 19 by the Liberal Democrats, two by the Scottish National Party and one by an Independent.

The biggest grey vote is expected in the Tory safe seat of Christchurch, Dorset, where the DMU survey predicts 70.9 per cent of those going to the polls will be aged over 55.