The DUP have today signalled support for the APPG on State Pension Inequality and their Bill for a fair pensions deal for women born in the 1950s.
The APPG’s Bill calls for a review of pension changes, introduced in the last Government, which meant that two million women were told they must work an extra six years before retiring, without compensation. The Bill’s Second Reading will take place on Friday 27th April 2018.
The related campaign now has a clear Commons majority. All opposition Parties, along with the DUP, have signalled support for the campaign. In addition, according to a July article in the Evening Standard, at least 37 Conservative MPs – including Peter Heaton-Jones, PPS to Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke – have signalled support.
The confirmation of support by the DUP indicates that the Government could be defeated in a landmark vote, should April’s Second Reading debate lead to a vote.
Sammy Davies MP, DUP Spokesperson for Work & Pensions said:
“The DUP has campaigned on this issue for a long number of years.
We feel that these woman have been let down because changes were made to their pension arrangements with little communication to them regarding those changes, leaving a huge impact on their lives because they were unable to plan for their future retirement.
There is a need to address the hardship which these changes have imposed on them.”
Co-Chairs of the APPG, Carolyn Harris MP and Tim Loughton MP, as well as Secretary, Chris Elmore MP have welcomed the support of the DUP. The group of MPs today said:
“We are delighted that the DUP have today confirmed support for our campaign on state pension justice.
The Bill we have presented is an opportunity to right-the-wrongs of the Government’s pension changes that short-changed two million women.
The Prime Minister now has a final chance to adopt the measures laid out in the Bill, before a defeat in April could force her to.”
