PARLIAMENTARY hopefuls have promised to throw their support behind the south Essex women whose lives were changed by a change in state pension rules.
More than 100,000 women in Essex born in the 1950s were affected by a change in the law in 1995 which increased the state pension age from 60 to 65.
But they weren’t told until 15 years later meaning many had to change their retirement plans with little or no notice.
Earlier this month, ministers were told to urgently provide compensation to the affected Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) women after a report suggested they should each be paid compensation ranging between £1,000 and £2,950.
With a general election around the corner, we asked the candidates for Southend West and Leigh to tell us their thoughts.
Conservative Anna Firth, who is defending her seat in the House of Commons, said: “People who have worked hard during their lives should have dignity and security in retirement.
“That is a fundamental Conservative principle and it underpins my commitment to supporting pensioners in Southend West and Leigh, including fast and fair compensation for the thousands of Waspi women in our city that I have stood up for in parliament.”
Ms Firth said she is backing the Tories’ so-called “Triple Lock Plus” policy and hit out at Labour for refusing to back it.
Labour’s candidate, David Burton-Sampson, said: “When the decision to accelerate the increase in the state pension age was taken by the Tories with very little notice, Labour fought for fair transitional arrangements and a longer notice period.
“We’ll look at what steps we can take to make an iron cast commitment to the Waspi women for any future Labour government.
“On pensions more generally, we want to introduce a strategy for ageing well. We’re committed to working with industry to ensure that workplace pensions provide a secure income through retirement.”
Liberal Democrat candidate Stephen Cummins said: “The Waspi women have won their case and should be compensated immediately by the incoming government, following the ombudsman’s recommendations.
“It’s especially frustrating that the State Pension Age (Compensation) Bill was dropped due to the general election being called.
“The UK government saved £200billion by equalising the state pension age at 66, yet the lack of resolution for the 3.8million Waspi women is disgraceful.”
James Miller, who is standing for the Southend Confelicity Party, said: “People work and pay taxes their whole lives expecting a pension and so they should.
“It is for the government to work around us and ensure the public finances are in a position that they can deliver what we need.
“What happened to the Waspi women is an example how not to manage the pensions and their determination to be compensated is perfectly understandable.
“A person living on a state pension alone hasn't a lot of money, so the triple lock makes sense.”
The Green candidate, Tilly Hogrebe, was invited to comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
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