Women affected by pension age changes call for parliament to intervene after losing court fight.

High Court finds against challenge to raising of women’s pension age

Women affected by controversial changes to the state pension age have called on Parliament to intervene after they lost their landmark High Court fight.

Nearly four million women born in the 1950s have been affected by the changes, introduced by successive governments in an attempt to ensure “pension age equalisation”, which have raised the state pension age from 60 to 66.

Julie Delve, 61, and Karen Glynn, 63 – supported by campaign group Backto60 – took the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to court, arguing that raising their pension age unlawfully discriminated against them on the grounds of age and sex, and that they were not given adequate notice of the changes.

But, giving judgment yesterday, Lord Justice Irwin and Mrs Justice Whipple dismissed the claim “on all grounds”.

There were some disappointed gasps in the packed courtroom at the Royal Courts of Justice in London as the decision was announced.

In their ruling, the judges stated: “We are saddened by the stories we read in the evidence lodged by the claimants. But our role as judges in this case is limited.

“There is no basis for concluding that the policy choices reflected in this legislation were not open to government. We are satisfied that they were. In any event they were approved by Parliament.”

Joanne Welch, from the Backto60 campaign, said outside the Royal Courts of Justice: “Where do we go from here? Well, where will the government go from here is the better question.”

She referred to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pledge during the Tory leadership campaign to look at the state pension age issue with “fresh vigour”, adding: “We will be holding you to that undertaking.”

She said: “We are hoping now that, given the judiciary have said that Parliament must look at this... that they will do that because women are suffering.”

As Ms Welch finished her statement, supporters chanted: “The fight goes on.”

In a statement, a DWP spokesman said: “We welcome the High Court’s judgment.

“It has always been our view that the changes we made to women’s state pension age were entirely lawful and did not discriminate on any grounds.

“Raising state pension age in line with life expectancy changes has been the policy of successive administrations over many years.”

The decision by the courts to dismiss an action against the Department for Work and Pensions over the impacts of changes to pension age legislation for millions of women born in the 1950s was not surprising.

But, far from being an end to the matter, the ruling has had a galvanising effect and the Backto60 and Waspi campaigns are planning to continue their fight for fairness.

While one door has shut, the prospect of a general election has opened another. It may be the ballot box is the most likely avenue through which change can be achieved.

Picture: PA. Protesters outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London yesterday before the ruling was announced.