British MPs demand turnabout on women's pensions

Ministers are facing a mounting revolt by Liberal Democrat and Tory MPs over controversial plans to fast-track the rise in women's state pension age. Coalition backbench MPs Thursday broke ranks to criticise the "deeply unfair" proposals which will force around 300,000 women to wait 18 months or longer to receive their pension. Nineteen Lib Dems a third of the parliamentary party are among 161 MPs who have signed a motion opposing the plans, and increasing numbers of Tory MPs are voicing concerns. The government will raise the state pension age to 66 by 2020 six years earlier than planned by the previous Labour government and accelerate the rate at which women's state pension age is increased to 65 in line with men's. These changes will result in 2.6 million women having to wait longer for their state pension. But 33,000 women born between March 6, 1954, and April 5, 1954, will be hardest hit as they will have to wait two years longer to collect their state pension. MPs yesterday said they had been inundated with letters from angry female constituents who fear they will lose out on up to £15,000 (Dh90,497) if the changes go ahead. Government sources said Lib Dem pensions minister Steve Webb is under massive pressure to reconsider the plans. And there is speculation that coalition ministers will be forced into another U-turn. Labour spokesman Yvette Cooper accused the coalition of an "assault" on women. She said: "Women in their late 50s are getting a very bad deal. No men will see their state pension age increase by more than a year but half a million women will." From / Gulf News