Twigg joins fight for equal pensions
HALTON MP Derek Twigg waded into a debate in Westminster over state pension arrangments for women born in the 1950s.
Mr Twigg spoke during a House Of Commons session called by fellow Labour MP Grahame Morris on pension equality for women.
The debate called on the Government to publish proposals to provide a non-means tested bridging solution for all women born on or after April 6, 1950, who are impacted by changes to the state pension age in the 1995 and 2011 Pension Acts.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign is fighting the ‘injustice’ to all women born in the 1950s affected by the law changes.
While the campaign group agrees with the state pension age for women rising to 65, the same as men, they disagree with the way the changes have been implemented.
They believe it has been done little or no personal notice, faster than promised, and no time has been given for women to make alternative plans.
In Westminster, Mr Twigg congratulated Mr Morris for securing the debate and for his ‘tireless work’ in supporting the WASPI cause.
The Halton MP said: “I certainly support the call for fair transitional state pension arrangements for all WASPI women, but a number of options have been suggested.”
Mr Morris confirmed there are a ‘number of options’ and said there are things which the Government could do immediately to ‘mitigate and alleviate the worst hardship that is being suffered’.
He said: “This is a matter of concern throughout the House, as is demonstrated by the number of signatures to the early-day motion, and representations have been made from every UK nation and region, as well as every political party in the House.”
The debate involved speeches and intervetions from more than 30 MPs.
Closing the debate, Mr Morris said: “I am an eternal optimist, perhaps formed by my experiences, and I think that all sides are going to build momentum and bring this campaign to a successful conclusion. ● ●
“I point out to the minister, with all due respect, that if the maladministration cases are found against the Government, we could be looking at a huge settlement, so it may well be in the minister’s interests and those of the Government to seek a parliamentary solution.
“These women, many of whom were in the gallery today, deserve justice, and we are here to try to deliver that.