Hartlepool WASPI campaigners remember 90,000 women who died without pension at plaque unveiling

Campaigners from Hartlepool fighting for women hit by pension changes helped spread the message by attending two high profile events in London and Manchester.
By Mark Payne
Published 10th Mar 2020, 16:45 BST
Updated 11th Mar 2020, 12:57 BST
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Members of the Hartlepool WASPI branch (Women Against State Pension Injustice) raised awareness of the campaign with MPs in Westminster.

The following day, they attended the unveiling of a plaque at a statue of Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst in Manchester in memory of more than 90,000 women who have died without receiving their pension after the Government increased the age for women.

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At the MP drop-in at Portcullis House, the ladies spoke to politicians including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Hartlepool and Easington MPs Mike Hill and Grahame Morris.

Members of Hartlepool WASPI Supporters Group at the unveiling of a plaque in memory of thousands of women who died while missing out on their pension at the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in Manchester.Members of Hartlepool WASPI Supporters Group at the unveiling of a plaque in memory of thousands of women who died while missing out on their pension at the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in Manchester.
Members of Hartlepool WASPI Supporters Group at the unveiling of a plaque in memory of thousands of women who died while missing out on their pension at the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in Manchester.

The WASPI movement was formed due to women born between 1950 and 1959 now facing financial hardship because of a lack of notice by the government of changes to their State Pension Age (SPA) of up to six years.

They want the government to make fair transitional arrangements, such as a bridging pension at a lower rate, to cover the period between their old and new SPA and compensation for women who have already reached their SPA.

Barbara Crossman, of Hartlepool WASPI Supporters Group, said: “We met various MPs who all seemed positive towards us.

“Fingers crossed, something will happen.”

Members of the Hartlepool WASPI branch also chatted to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.Members of the Hartlepool WASPI branch also chatted to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Members of the Hartlepool WASPI branch also chatted to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
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Just 24 hours later, the ladies met up with scores fellow WASPI campaigners from around the country for a march to the unveiling of the commemorative plaque in Manchester.

It was funded following a nationwide crowdfunding campaign. The Hartlepool group also laid flowers.

Barbara added: “The plaque was for the 90,000 women who have died between the ages of 60 and 66 without receiving pensions. We have to be their voice.

“I couldn’t believe some of the stories of desperation that we heard.”

Hartlepool MP Mike Hill spoke to WASPI women from Hartlepool at an event in Westminster.Hartlepool MP Mike Hill spoke to WASPI women from Hartlepool at an event in Westminster.
Hartlepool MP Mike Hill spoke to WASPI women from Hartlepool at an event in Westminster.
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Hartlepool MP Mike Hill is backing cross-party calls by Hartlepool Borough Council for free bus passes for WASPI women.

He said: “Their claim in the High Court for compensation has yet to be fully resolved but initiatives like this will at least help alleviate some of the hardship.

“For my part I’m pressing fellow local MPs to take this up with their council leaders and supporting the WASPI women in their quest to get similar motions passed in every local authority and to get the support of the metro mayor Ben Houchen.”

Related topics:HartlepoolMPsMike HillLondon