WASPIs: beware the sting of Labour
AS A WASPI, I urge all others in my position to think carefully about the Labour Party’s promise to compensate us ‘at some time in the future’ for not receiving our state pension at 60. Do you remember the student loan promise that it subsequently realised it could not afford? Boris Johnson has missed an opportunity as I would be happy if my pension were reinstated back to the age of 62, not 60. This would save a lot of money for the Government if the court case appeal goes against them.
LYNN DOHERTY, Narberth, Pembs.
JEREMY CORBYN has form when it comes to promising jam tomorrow for votes today. What makes the unfortunate WASPIs think they will fare any better than the students?
JOHN COLLINS, Chelmsford, Essex.
A YOUNG woman in her 20s rang in to the Jeremy Vine Radio 2 to say she didn’t see what the problem was for the WASPIs. Surely we had enough notice and could have saved or paid more into private pensions to allow for the change in pension age. How different life was for women like me born in the Fifties. We stayed at home to look after our young children because it wasn’t the done thing to put them into child care. We didn’t have careers and depended on our husband’s salary. When we went back to work when the children were older, it was often for pin money. Private pensions weren’t so readily available and we didn’t have as much disposable income as they do today. We didn’t have the latest mobile phone, broadband, TV and two family cars. We didn’t eat out very often or have pizzas delivered. We started working at 16 and made sure we paid in enough stamps so we would get our pension at 60. That was the deal and then the government moved the goalposts. Some of us were never informed of the changes, so how could we save for something we didn’t know about? The money is there to compensate us if we cut foreign aid.
LORAINE BARKELL, Plympton, Devon.
LABOUR has recognised the injustice to women born in the Fifties who narrowly missed out on unfairly receiving a retirement pension five years before men of the same age. Compensation for their distress is to be £58 billion, which may be found or borrowed if Labour gets into office. What about women born in the Sixties, another arbitrary cut-off date? Some may be cynical enough to see in this a series of delays in equalising the treatment of men and women. But obviously the WASPIs are committed to achieving equality — only not yet.
JOHN RISELEY, Harrogate, N. Yorks.
AS A WASPI, I’m mystified as to why I should receive £100 for each week I worked after 60 and before I was able to receive the state pension. I was told well beforehand I would have to work for longer — and why shouldn’t I? If women want equal rights, they can’t pick and choose. BRENDA BROCKLESBY,
Peterborough, Cambs.