WASPI women are all set for appeal
JONATHAN GEDDES
A local campaign group have thrown their support behind a Court of Appeal hearing regarding discrimination against women born in the 1950s.
The WASPI Glasgow Lanarkshire Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire branch, led by Burnside woman Anne Potter, have been campaigning against changes to the 1995 and 2011 pension acts, which delayed many women’s state pensions by several years with little warning.
Now the Back to 60 campaign group has had its case regarding the changes heard at the Court of Appeal in London.
A decision had been anticipated last week, but a verdict has yet to be delivered.
The group’s previous legal challenge was dismissed at the High Court last year, when the ruling went in favour of the government.
WASPI estimate that around 5100 women in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency have been affected by the pension changes.
Ms Potter said: “The WASPI campaign has been continually raising concerns with politicians across all parties to highlight the injustice suffered by 1950s born women.
“It is particularly important now to realise that if the 3.8 million women were in receipt of their State Pension, we could contribute towards aiding the recovery of the UK economy given the anticipated unemployment levels post COVID-19, by freeing up jobs for those in the younger age bracket”.
Women born in the 1950s had expected to receive their state pension at age 60 and many have been forced to work on after learning that they were no longer eligible for the pension.
The campaigners believe that the current coronavirus pandemic has had a serious effect on this age group and their ability to find work, having been unable to qualify for financial support, particularly if employed on zero hours contract, while shielding is also another factor affecting that age group.