Public sector pensions 'mishandled' - Ed Miliband

The government is "hopelessly mismanaging" changes to public sector pensions, Ed Miliband has said.

The Labour leader said that strikes would be a sign of failure by the government and the unions and advised both sides to negotiate a settlement.

Treasury minister Danny Alexander is to confirm in a speech that the public sector retirement age will be linked to the state pension age, which is due to rise to 66.

But unions said the speech, while talks were continuing, was "inflammatory".