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The leader of the country's largest trade union has accused the government of playing on the "dark politics of fear" in relation to young people since its re-election.

General secretary Dave Prentis told Unison's annual conference in Glasgow last week that the government was tarnishing young people by targeting those wearing hooded tops and suggesting  young offenders wear "work gang jackets".

He also renewed the union's threat to call out its members on strike to defend public sector pensions.

Prentis said: "We will fight for pensions that give dignity and security to all our members in retirement."

Deputy prime minister John Prescott avoided a 24-hour national strike by council staff by promising to revoke proposed reforms that would increase the minimum pension age from 50 to 55 and the normal retirement age from 60 to 65.

Unison expects the changes to be revoked soon, but it has insisted that it would not enter negotiations with the government over the scheme until this happened.