I’m pleased to announce that our motion calling for justice for women born in the 1950s, affected by changes to the state pension age, has passed with strong cross-party support. This is an important step forward for the thousands of women in Worcester and beyond, who have been waiting far too long for their voices to be heard and for the injustice they’ve experienced to be addressed.
The motion, provided by the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign, called on the government to act on therecommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, which urged the government to issue an apology and deliver compensation to the women affected by the lack of proper notice about the pension age changes. These women, who had planned their retirements based on the understanding that they would retire at 60, found themselves blindsided by the changes, leading to significant financial hardship.
It’s worth noting that this is not a problem caused by any single government, but rather a culmination of decisions across successive governments where issues affecting women have often fallen through the cracks. This is a cross-party problem, and it requires cross-party solutions. The fact that our motion, which mirrors a similar Labour motion passed by Portsmouth City Council in December 2022, received support across the political spectrum is evidence of the collective desire to address this long-standing injustice.
That said, the vote wasn’t unanimous. Councillor Alan Amos chose to abstain, but I’m encouraged that the overwhelming majority of councillors recognised the importance of standing up for these women. As local representatives, it is our duty to advocate for our residents and make sure that the government delivers justice to the thousands of women who have been left in such a vulnerable position.
Councillor Sarah Murray captured the sentiment perfectly when she said:
*”This is an issue that transcends party politics. It’s not about who is to blame, but about how we can now come together to ensure these women receive the compensation and recognition they so clearly deserve. I’m proud that our council has taken this important step in supporting them.”*
As Liberal Democrats, we have always stood for fairness and equality, and this issue is no different. We will continue to work alongside other parties and the WASPI campaign to ensure that the government acts quickly to provide these women with the compensation they deserve.
I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone who supported this motion and acknowledge the cross-party collaboration that has allowed us to get to this point. This is a significant step forward, but it’s by no means the end of the road. We must continue to push for action to ensure justice for the WASPI women, and I’m confident that, with continued cross-party support, we will achieve that goal.
Thank you to all involved, and let’s keep up the fight until these women receive the fairness they’ve been waiting for.
