Following the formidable work of those on the WASPI campaign, a debate was help in Parliament as Labour MPs called on the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for women negatively affected by state pension inequalities. The WASPI e-petition had attracted 154,000 signatures.

Julie voted for the transitional arrangements to be brought forward by the Government along with 264 other MPs. However, 289 MPs voted against changing the existing arrangements.

Following the debate, Julie said:

“Many of these women have faced gender inequality in their working lives, having entered the world of work without even the protection of the 1970 Equal Pay Act. Many will also have taken time out of work to bring up children, will have worked part-time, and will not have had the chance to build up pension provision of their own in the same way as men of their age. This makes it all the more difficult for them to adapt to unexpected changes to their pension age.

My Labour colleagues and I will continue to push the Government to look urgently at measures to help the women who have been disadvantaged.”