Council Leader supports WASPI cause

The Leader of Basildon Council, Cllr Gavin Callaghan, joined members of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) outside the Basildon Centre on Saturday 20 July.

WASPI members were campaigning across the country to raise awareness of the impact felt by women born in the 1950s due to the government’s pension age increase in 2011.

Cllr Callaghan also committed to hold a public meeting at the Basildon Centre, to talk to women who may have been affected by the 2011 change to their pensions. He said:

“What the government has done to the pensions of women born in the 1950s is a national scandal. I want as many women in the Basildon Borough to be aware of what’s happened so we can lobby MPs together. I will arrange a public meeting in Basildon so the facts can be laid out and the women affected are given the chance to have their voices heard.”

Cllr Aidan McGurran, Chairman of the External Affairs, Partnerships and Liaison Committee, echoed Cllr Callaghan’s comments.

“It’s important for us to know more about WASPI and the effects the changes to pensions have had on women born in the 1950s. I look forward to meeting with campaigners to discuss how we as a council can best support their cause at a national level.”

Further details on the meeting will be shared in due course.