Woman killed herself after election result raised pension fears, MP says

A woman killed herself after the general election result heightened her pension worries, an SNP MP has claimed.

Mhairi Black, the SNP’S pensions spokeswoman, said she was “absolutely scunnered” with “banging on about the injustice” done to women by moves to increase the state pension age from 60 to 65.

She urged the government to perform a U-turn and give extra financial help to those affected, adding that Prime Minister Theresa May’s £1 billion deal with the DUP to prop up her minority administra- 0 Mhairi Black called for a U-turn on women’s pensions tion diminishes ministerial claims about a lack of cash.

Work and pensions minister Guy Opperman was later accused of suggesting women over 60 could complete apprenticeships as he defended the government’s policy. Backbench Tories also voiced concerns and called for change, increasing the pressure on Mrs May.

Plans to increase the state pension age for women between 2010 and 2020 were initially set out in 1995. But the coalition government decided to speed up the process in 2011, resulting in the state pension age for women due to increase to 65 in November 2018 and to 66 by October 2020.

Campaigners argue women affected by the changes have suffered financial hardship and been required to rethink retirement plans at short notice.