PLIGHT OF WASPI WOMEN

Women born in the 1950s have been let down by this government. The assumption that men are the breadwinners and women are the caregivers were the norm when this generation was growing up. Boys had the advantage in those days of being encouraged to go to University, learn a trade, or take managerial roles in business or local government. Girls were expected to take on lower-paid supporting roles such as secretarial. These women would be the typist rather than the writer, the bus conductor rather than the driver, more often the Nurse rather than the Doctor or Vet. Their careers were interrupted giving birth and looking after young children, so they were nearly always overlooked for promotion. These women had one advantage and that was retirement pension at 60. They made plans and financial decisions based on this promise. Then without notice, it was cruelly taken away. All their financial plans ruined. Equality is to be encouraged, but this policy should have been rolled out gradually so that one generation does not take all the punishment. The Yorkshire Party believes in fairness and condemns the way these women have been treated. We call on the government to look again at this harsh decision and compensate these women who deserve better.