Over 60 women born in the 1950s from across Newport have gathered to discuss the ongoing injustice they are facing as a result of changes to the state pension age.

I hosted the event at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church Hall, with guest speaker Carolyn Harris MP.  Carolyn is currently the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for women and the UK’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities.

Newport East AM, John Griffiths, and Newport West AM, Jayne Bryant, were also in attendance to voice their support for the campaign.

Speaking at the event, I said: “It’s so positive to see so many women from right across Newport coming together to update and discuss how the campaign is going and to plan our next steps from here. Despite the unsympathetic Government, the campaign has been dogged in its campaign to achieve fair transitional arrangements and we will continue to speak out for those affected”.

 Changes made by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government in 2011 raised the retirement age for women born in the 1950s sooner than expected, and in many cases without proper communication.

The APPG that works on this issue has recently held a consultation which invited all campaign groups from across the UK to submit recommendations which have fed into the creation of a public bill to take points forwards in the House of Commons.

Carolyn Harris MP commented: “Saturday was a wonderful opportunity to meet with so many women from across Newport who have been affected by the changes to the state pension age.  The APPG has cross-party support and we are determined to make sure our recommendations are heard by the government.”

Up to 3.1 million women are estimated to have been affected by the changes, with approximately 9,100 living across Newport alone.