Mhairi Black has today called on the UK government to use the Autumn Statement to “right a wrong” on women’s pension inequality and criticised the government for “ducking their responsibility” to millions of women hit by unfair pension changes.
In a Westminster Hall debate on the acceleration of the state pension age for women born in the 1950s, Mhairi Black will call on the government to act and implement the transitional measures needed to deliver justice to the Local Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) group.
The debate follows on from a long-standing campaign by SNP MPs with WASPI women who have been affected by pension changes. The SNP have argued that transitional measures to mitigate the issue would cost significantly less than the UK government’s £30 billion figure, with independent research commissioned by the SNP showing the cost would only sit at £8 billion.
The debate has received cross-party support and there will be a photo-call organised at Westminster with the WASPI group alongside MPs who will be in attendance.
Mhairi Black, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, and the only SNP representative on the Work and Pensions Select Committee said: “The UK government has for far too long been ducking their responsibility on introducing measures that would deliver justice to WASPI campaigners and those affected by the rapid rises to the State Pension Age.
“This Westminster Hall debate is another step towards ensuring that the contract the UK government broke with these women is lived up to. I urge the Chancellor to right a monumental wrong and lay out in his Autumn Statement plans to mitigate the impact pension inequality has had on WASPI campaigners.
“Millions of women have been hit and hit hard by these changes. No-one is arguing against the equalisation of the State Pension Age however, these women have paid National Insurance contributions and are due their pension.
“If the Chancellor fails to address the issue of unequal pensions for the women affected in the Autumn Statement then it will only echo the UK government’s continued deafening silence and lack of action.
“If we have billions of pounds to be able to house nuclear weapons then the government surely has the money to pay these women their overdue and earned pensions. Independent figures have shown the UK government have inflated the figure on how much it would cost for transitional measures.”