Contract across generations needed to build solidarity and avoid generation clash, Minister tells Fabian fringe.

'We have to avoid a politics of young Vs old', warned Minister for Lifelong Learning Bill Rammell at the Fabian 'Generation Clash' event, 'In order for progressive politics to succeed, we need to be able to build coalitions'.

Labour must look to develop 'a community of interest' building 'a contract across generations' Rammell argued at the Generation Clash Fabian fringe debate.

Barnardos' Julian Walker pointed out that there is already a significant convergence of interests between young and old, particularly amongst the disadvantaged in society. 'They face the same risks; poverty, poor housing and social isolation.

Tensions between generations were not a new trend. What was new was the way that society reacted to them, said Walker, citing anti-social behaviour legislation as an example of how children's actions were being increasingly criminalised, reflecting the lack of confidence adults had in tackling challenging behaviour.

'We have a generation of children raising children' said Walker.

Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting agreed that tensions between generations, based on the depiction of older people benefitting economically at the expense of younger people were often exaggerated. Vertical patterns of inequality remained, with those without assets such as property unable to pass on that wealth to their children, increasingly the likelihood that they too would struggle to get their foot on the property ladder.

Alan Walker, the Director of the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme at the University of Sheffield, criticised rhetoric which sought to inflame generational tensions. Although tensions between generations existed, particularly around changing expectations of the welfare state, there was no evidence in Britain or elsewhere that a 'clash' had ever occurred.

Intergenerational equality and solidarity had however, 'been swept under the carpet for too long' according to Walker, who called for new policies to encourage intergenerational solidarity.

'Better basic pensions are an offer to young people as well as older people', he said.' Better basic pensions take the anxiety out of the labour market. He added that 'Tackling child poverty, challenging age discrimination, increasing intergenerational interaction, and encouraging younger people to vote will be crucial to building this solidarity.'

The panel agreed that alongside policy changes, a broader change in conceptions of ageing was needed, replacing an assumption that ageing starts at 60, to a greater acceptance that ageing is a process that begins on day one. This, it was argued, would better fit the changing needs of society, for example, encouraging learning throughout the lifecycle to equip people with the skills necessary to keep pace with the economy.

'The economic success of this country in the future will rest on how we deal with an ageing population. That means not just second careers, but third and fourth', said Alan Walker.

• Generation Clash? Can we avoid a politics of "young vs old"?. This Fabian fringe even took place on Tuesday 25th September at the Labour conference in Bournemouth, kindly supported by Help the Aged and Liverpool Victoria.
• Speakers: Sadiq Khan MP, Bill Rammell MP (Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education), Alan Walker (New Dynamics of Ageing Research Programme), Julian Walker (Barnardo's). Chair: Faisal Islam (Channel 4 News)