WASPI women turn Hastings Old Town purple

A group of women painted the town purple last week to raise awareness of the Government's changes to State Pensions.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Feb 2017, 13:13 BST
Updated 1st Mar 2017, 09:38 BST

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WASPI Hastings and Rother 'paint the town purple' in Hastings Old Town, Photo by Roberts Photographic. SUS-170220-130409001WASPI Hastings and Rother 'paint the town purple' in Hastings Old Town, Photo by Roberts Photographic. SUS-170220-130409001
WASPI Hastings and Rother 'paint the town purple' in Hastings Old Town, Photo by Roberts Photographic. SUS-170220-130409001

Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) consists of women across the UK who were born in the 1950s, on or after April 6, 1951, and have been affected by the Government’s changes.

On Monday, February 13, members from the Hastings and Rother Group temporarily displayed sashes, banners, balloons and anything purple on Hastings Old Town landmarks and places of interest. They were joined by Councillor Sue Beaney, Councillor Alan Roberts and Andy Ives, the Labour candidate for Brede Valley and Marsham.

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The event painted the town purple as the colour is an acknowledgment to the Suffragette movement.

A WASPI spokesman said: “As well as gaining attention, these events provide support and encouragement within the many various groups; rapidly increasing as more and more women are discovering the changes in their pensions.

“Those women born in the 1950s received little or no warning of the changes to the State Pension Age (SPA) which for some has moved their SPA from age 60 to 66. We may now need to wait five to six additional years to get our State Pension. Under these pension changes the most men will wait is one additional year.

“WASPI women agree with having the same retirement age as men, but are against the speed in change of SPA for 1950s women.

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“We want to put this unfairness and inequality right. Therefore we are demanding transitional arrangements for our State Pensions, which will mean that we are in receipt of payment sooner.”

On Wednesday, March 8 WASPI groups throughout the UK will be taking part in the London Demonstration at Westminster.

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Related topics:GovernmentHastings Old Town