The government say that the current pension system is unfair and overly generous as people are living for longer. However, union members say they are being “robbed”, having to work for longer and getting less to show for it in the end.

Lecturers, NHS staff, border patrols and civil servants are all expected to take part in today’s strike, while around 20,000 off duty police officers will also strike in London against funding cuts.

Unions say that up to 400,000 people are striking today, while the government claim it is in fact around half that figure.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live today, the General Secretary of the PCS union Mark Serwotka said, “We're going to have the highest pension age of any western European country. We pay more and not a penny goes into anybody's pension fund.

"In every major public sector scheme - health, education and the civil service - the majority of trade unions have refused to accept these cuts in their pensions."

In return, Conservative Party Chairman Lady Warsi said she was “disappointed” with today’s strike, saying they “benefit no one”. She went on to say that people are simply being asked to give “a bit more but they will be guaranteed a pension which is index-linked and inflation proof".