On Wednesday I welcomed a number of Medway WASPI members to Parliament, following their march to protest against changes to state pension provision.
I understand that this has caused much stress and despair to many of these women, so I found it useful to hear further their concerns and establish what more I can do to help. There is clearly an unfairness in what has happened, which was even acknowledged by the former Pensions Minster, Steven Webb, who said that the Government had made the wrong decision and had been badly briefed on the vast number of women these changes would adversely affect.
The issue now however, is how this can be resolved in the face of the current policy and political complications we now find ourselves in. as I made clear to local WASPI campaigners on Wednesday, I find that the best way to get change in Westminster is to have honest discussions in the corridors and meeting rooms of Parliament and Government, away from theatrical forum of the Commons Chamber. In private, one is much more likely receive a frank answer where real progress can be made.
I am pleased that I and many of my colleagues – on both sides of the benches – have been lobbying Government in just this way. We will also continue to do so, particularly once the political dust has settled and the new Prime Minister and Cabinet comes forward and assumes its agenda.
Sadly, as a result of recent political events, and the build-up to such, progress on this issue has been slow. Hence why updates to concerned constituents has been infrequent. However, I am a member of the all-party parliamentary group set up for this matter and I intend to attend future meetings, although these groups tend to meet only once every few months. But again, that is not to say that work and lobbying is not still ongoing.
I would like to thank those WASPI members who marched to Parliament on Wednesday, despite the rain, and I look forward to this matter progressing positively over the months to come.