Julie attended the Westminster Hall debate on Transitional State Pensions Arrangements for Women for which there was standing room only. The issue is of growing prominence as women affected by both the 1995 and 2011 Pension Acts begin to retire in July this year. Over the next four years, women’s state pension age will rise by nearly three years.

On this issue, Julie said:

“My views are consistent with those of the main campaign group working against this injustice, Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI).  I also sympathise with the 125,000-plus people who have signed an online petition calling on the Government to take steps to correct the errors that have occurred. This debate will further raise the public profile of this injustice and that is welcome.

The failure of the Government to give appropriate notification to women affected by these changes is wholly unfair.  Many women in Sunderland and across the wider UK have been left in financial and emotional turmoil by the Government’s failure to take action – these women deserve better.”