Sidmouth residents among those battling against ‘unfair’ hike in state pension age
Women campaigning against ‘unfair’ changes to the state pension took their fight to Westminster last week.
Sidmouth residents were among a group of 30 who went to lobby their MPs for fair transitional arrangements to be put in place as, they say, the current situation is creating ‘dire financial hardship’ for some of the people affected.
The Women Against the State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign group was formed to fight government-imposed changes that have seen some women born after 1951 have to wait up to six years to collect their money – resulting in individual losses of £36,000 and more.
Campaigner Julie Davies was one of the first people to raise the issue in the Herald early this year. She has since had many other women get in touch – some of whom had not even known they would lose out. Julie was among those who met with Devon MPs in parliament last week and said she had hoped to speak to East Devon’s MP Sir Hugo Swire, who was not present.
She reported that Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, said there are no signs of change from the Government, but that there is sympathy.
The group was advised to contact the House of Lords as members can instigate legislation in the House of Commons.
They have already gained the backing of Devon County Council and East Devon District Council – where members branded the changes ‘a grave injustice to women’.
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