Friday, 29 Mar 2024

177 MPs demand ‘restitution’ for women’s pension age rises as campaign hits No10

Campaigners fighting in the High Court against women's state pension age rises have delivered a demand for "restitution" to 10 Downing Street.

The Back to 60 campaign handed in a letter to the Prime Minister yesterday demanding a "swift response" to a call by MPs for justice.

Campaign director Joanne Welch, Labour MP Anna McMorrin and UNISON highlighted a motion by 177 MPs including 18 Tories in Parliament.

The non-binding Early Day Motion calls on the Government to enact a "temporary special measure as permitted by international law" to provide "restitution" to those affected.

It was launched by Ms McMorrin in April but has been gaining signatures steadily with the most recent added in July.

Ms McMorrin said: "The state pension changes have disrupted the lives of millions of women born in the 1950s. Many have had to change their working and retirement plans so late in life, causing great upheaval."

Millions of women born in the 1950s are having their state pension age hiked to make it 66 by 2020, the same as for men.

Furious campaigners say the change came with too little notice, and two women are claiming unlawful discrimination through the High Court.

The letter to the Prime Minister says the change cause a "great ordeal" to many of the 3.8million women affected and demanded a "swift response".

Just before he became Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said he would “commit to doing everything I possibly can to sorting out” the issue which "I’m conscious has been going on for too long".

He added he was “not convinced" by government forecasts, one of which claimed reversing all changes would cost £181bn over 16 years.

But last month, welfare chief Amber Rudd said she was “sceptical” those hit can get any extra support and there is currently “no prospect” of that changing.

The Work and Pensions Secretary said: "At the moment the Treasury has been very resistant to supplying any additional funds.


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