Dear Sir,

Few women born in the 1950s would not have been disappointed when they learned that the sunlit uplands of retirement at 60 with a state pension were no longer in their grasp. Then in 2011 another kick in the teeth moved the goalposts yet again. Many people were not even told of these changes. Approaching 60, these women were faced, unexpectedly, with several more years of hard slog in sometimes demanding, physical work.

Many women were not only disappointed, they were outraged, at the unfairness, speed and lack of communication with which the changes were implemented, and WASPIs have campaigned long and hard for the resulting damage to be addressed by government.

The Labour Party recognises that there is a case to be answered and have committed to recompensing women should they be elected to government. Calculations show that the level of recompense will be between £15,000 and £30,000 over 5 years. Yes, there will be a cost, but how many times has the Conservative government found the money for their plans when it suited them?

Recompensing 1950s women did not suit them and, as usual, their harsh policies fall most heavily on working class women.

Vote Labour for a more just society.

Sedgefield Labour Women.