Westminster Hall recently hosted a debate on the Government’s proposed increase to the state pension age, and the detrimental effect this will have on some women, particularly those born in the mid-1950s.

I know that many of you have contacted me over the past few years to highlight your frustrations at the unequal nature of these changes.•

The Government’s changes mean that the state pension age for woman will increase from 60 to 65 by November 2018, and 66 by October 2020. Many campaigners have complained that these changes have been communicated poorly and as a result many woman are not aware of any changes until it’s too late to make suitable contingency plans. There is also concern that because of the way the proposals are phased in they will have a disproportionate effect on women born in the 1950s.

During the last Parliament, I along with my Labour colleagues pressured the Government to ensure that women who happen to be born in a particular year were not affected disproportionately, but the Government’s concessions did not go far enough.•

Thankfully, due to the excellent work of campaigners from Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) there was another Parliamentary debate on the matter on 1 February. U hope the Government will think again.

Here is the petition which has already passed the 100,000 mark- automatically triggering the debate:•https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/110776

You can also visit the WASPI website here, and see the fabulous work they are doing:•https://www.crowdjustice.co.uk/case/women-seeking-pension-justice/