Presentation of WASPI Petition in the House of Commons – 13 Oct 2016 

On 11 October I presented a petition in the House of Commons on behalf of Cardiff Central constituents during which petitions were presented from 199 other constituencies across the UK. 

The 200 petitions called on the Government to provide fair transitional arrangements for 1950s-born women who are being hit by changes to the state pension age. 

The UK-wide petition was launched by the campaign group WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality). My petition was started at the recent protest held by WASPI campaigners from across Wales outside the Senedd. 

The changes to the State Pension Age for women were started by the Conservative Government in 1995. In 2011, the Conservative and Lib Dem coalition Government accelerated the changes to the State Pension Age, increasing it for a second time for women who were born after 6th April 1950. The women who are worst affected have seen their State Pension Age increase from 60 to 66 years. 

Many of the women received little or no notification, leaving little or no time to make savings or put plans in place. This has caused uncertainty, worry and financial hardship. 

I have been campaigning alongside the women affected, speaking about the unfairness and supporting and attending in national and local days of action. 

I hope the Government will finally listen and put fair transitional arrangements in place. These women have suffered great hardship solely because of their date of birth. They deserve better.  

http://www.jostevens.co.uk/presentation_of_waspi_petition_in_the_house_of_commons 

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