Durham City MP Mary Kelly Foy promises to continue standing alongside Durham WASPI Women
By Abigail Tobias
Durham City MP Mary Kelly Foy promises to continue standing alongside Durham Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI).
Durham City MP Mary Kelly Foy has criticised the Government’s decision not to compensate 1950s women affected in line with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) recommendations. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she reiterated her support for WASPI Campaigners in Durham.
“After standing alongside WASPI women for so long I am devastated by the government announcement yesterday.
“I’ve already reached out to WASPI campaigners in Durham and I’m pleased they’re willing to sit down with me to discuss their next steps. It is important to tackle these issues head on as there’s no hiding from them. I’ll gladly continue to make representations on their behalf”
“I’ve already reached out to WASPI campaigners in Durham and I’m pleased they’re willing to sit down with me to discuss their next steps. It is important to tackle these issues head on as there’s no hiding from them. I’ll gladly continue to make representations on their behalf”
Mary Kelly Foy MP
WASPI Women have campaigned for compensation given what they claim was inadequate notice and communication regarding changes to increase their State Pension Age. A report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman presented to Parliament found “maladministration and failings in communication” and highlighted that Parliament should “intervene and identify a way to provide an appropriate remedy.”
Despite Labour’s claim that compensation is not a fair use of taxpayers’ money, the North East group is not giving up on its campaign. A member of the North East WASPI group Christine Smith highlighted how Durham women have ramped up their mass mailing campaign and media coverage, as well as the strong support they hold from Northern Politicians and communities. Every Council from Stockton to Berwick including Durham Council supported the WASPI women group in their demands.
“Financially I’m struggling, I’ve lost so much money and the small pension pots of money I should have had for rainy days have all been used to live off. Compensation for this injustice would have helped me so much”
Valerie Bell
WASPI women in Durham have expressed their outrage at the decision, highlighting the hardship they feel as a result. Durham WASPI member Valerie Bell told Palatinate “Financially I’m struggling, I’ve lost so much money and the small pension pots of money I should have had for rainy days have all been used to live off. Compensation for this injustice would have helped me so much.” She also makes it clear the Durham Chapter hasn’t given up “We won’t take the Government’s decision lightly. They underestimate the fact we are the biggest women’s campaign since the suffragettes but we are far more organised and thanks to technology far better informed. We won’t take this lying down.”
Image: David Woolfall/ Wikimedia Commons
