Motion supports Waspi women over pension changes

Mary Jones (centre) spoke on behalf of the Waspi women in West Northamptonshire at a meeting last week

A council has thrown its support behind a campaign calling for women adversely impacted by changes to the state pension age to be fairly compensated.

Tens of thousands of women in Northamptonshire were among millions affected by a government decision in 1995 to increase the state pension age from 60 to 65, and again to 66 in 2012.

The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group wants women to be compensated over the government's failure to tell them - or provide adequate notice - about the changes.

A motion to support the campaign was unanimously supported at a meeting of West Northamptonshire Council last week, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Earlier this year, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found communications from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on the age increase were flawed.

A DWP spokesperson said: "This was a serious report, requiring serious consideration.

"We will continue to listen respectfully to the women involved and ensure we take on board any lessons learnt."

'Totally obliterated'

Mary Jones, who spoke on behalf of the Waspi women in West Northamptonshire told Thursday's full council meeting of the Conservative-controlled authority that there had been a "gross injustice" by bad handling from the DWP.

She said: "The changes to the state pension age have affected about four million women and sadly, some of these women have passed away and will never draw the pension they're entitled to.

"The six years alone were extremely harsh on these ladies, many of whom had started work at 15 years of age and were told the working years they were paying in would guarantee a pension when they reached the pension age at 60.

"We paid in and the government should pay out to the Waspi ladies." she said.

Councillor Jonathan Harris, deputy leader of West Northamptonshire Liberal Democrats, who proposed a motion to lobby the government said: "Women have had their emotional, physical and mental circumstances totally obliterated by a lack of reasonable notice."

Conservative councillor Nigel Hinch said: "The Waspi women deserve the recognition, reparation and reconciliation as well as an apology."

All 68 members at Friday's meeting voted in favour of alerting Northamptonshire's newly elected members of parliament and pushing for compensation.