Age UK Protesters Force Ministers to Delay the Pensions Bill

Exciting news… following my last post, the hundreds of women who converged on Westminster on the 18 May to lobby their MPs – some with their husbands – have forced the Government to rethink its plans over pensions. Congratulations to all of those women and everyone else who wrote to their local MP!

The second reading of the Pensions Bill has now been postponed. Steve Webb, the pensions minister, admitted that the delay will give the Government time to “reflect” on how the changes would adversely affect some women. The proposals must pass a second and third reading before becoming law.

Political pressure is still growing on the issue. About 140 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion asking the Government to raise the pension age more slowly – 14 Liberal Democrat MPs and two Conservatives. It’s thought that the Government was prompted to reconsider the Bill due to fears of a backbench Liberal Democrat rebellion on the vote.

The battle’s not over yet, though, so do please continue to lobby your local MP.

Thank you

Alice Woudhuysen

recently joined Age UK London as Communications and Campaigns Officer. A trained journalist, Alice spent three years working in legal publishing, as a writer and editor, before entering the charity sector. She worked as an intern on Macmillan Cancer Support's flagship fundraising event, the World's Biggest Coffee Morning, and then worked as Communications Officer for Guy's and St Thomas' Charity. You can contact Alice on 020 7820 6778 or awoudhuysen@ageuklondon.org.uk

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