Hastings and Rother WASPI marches in London demo

Campaigners fighting against '˜unfair' women's state pension changes marched in London recently.
Members of Hastings and Rother WASPI at the marchMembers of Hastings and Rother WASPI at the march
Members of Hastings and Rother WASPI at the march

The Hastings and Rother Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) group travelled to Westminster to join other groups in the demonstration.

The march was to raise awareness about the changes to women’s retirement age which was done without enough warning, WASPI claims.

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The 2011 State Pension Act changed the age to 66, the same as men, for women born on or after April 6, 1951.

WASPI claims many women were not even told of the changes before they realised when they got to 60 and could not retire and claim the state pension.

Penny Saxby, from Hastings and Rother WASPI, said: “Fifteen of our members travelled to Westminster on March 8 to join other groups from the UK, some as far as Wales, to take part in the demonstration and raise awareness of the injustice that so many women have been subjected to regarding their state pension delay.

“Recent figures provided by the DWP, as a Freedom of Information request, show that 3.48 million women born during the 1950s have been affected by this injustice.

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“Demonstrators were encouraged to chant, blow whistles and generally make themselves heard outside the Houses of Parliament, and this certainly happened.

“At one point Martin Lewis, money saving expert) addressed the huge crowd, applauding and encouraging everyone to fight hard for their rights.

“Peter Stefanovic, lawyer and stauch supporter of WASPI, and Mhairi Black (SNP) were among the speakers, and both gave rousing speeches on the injustice.”

For anyone wishing to join WASPI, email [email protected].

Visit the group’s website at www.waspi.co.uk.

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