Guy Opperman’s comments enrage ‘Waspi’ campaigners – and Conservative MPs join criticism of policy
The pensions minister is facing criticism after suggesting that millions of women in their 60s who are facing cuts to their state pension could take up apprenticeships as a route to re-employment.
Guy Opperman said the government would not change laws that have disadvantaged older women, but instead highlighted “extended apprenticeship opportunities” to get older people into work.
His comments, which were met with cries of “shame”, came at a meeting in Westminster Hall at which fellow Conservatives and members of the Democratic Unionist Party were among dozens of MPs saying that the changes were unfair.
The debate centred on the plight of the so-called Waspi women – Women Against State Pension Inequality – whose aim is to achieve fair transitional arrangements for women born in the 1950s, for whom the state pension age is being raised from 60 to 66 by 2020.
Opperman said the government would not offer concessions and instead suggested that older people could retrain, go back to work or take up an apprenticeship.
“There is a massive amount that this government has done on a progressive basis to get people back into employment in their pre-pension years.
“We have created and extended a network of older people’s champions into all 34 Jobcentre Plus districts in the country.
“We have committed to lifelong learning – over 200,000 over 60 have entered further education.
“Thirdly, we have also extended apprenticeship opportunities as one of the best routes to skilled employment for people of all ages and gender. Such apprenticeships in England for example in 2014/15 are 12% of the starting apprenticeships are for those over 45,” he said.
Graham Jones, the Labour MP for Hyndburn, raised a point of order following Opperman’s comment.
“I’m struggling to hear the debate, did the minister just say that women aged 64 could go on an apprenticeship course?” he said.
Campaigners for Waspi women took to Twitter to express their anger at Opperman’s comments. Diana Mitchell Launt wrote: “I don’t want an apprenticeship: I’ve studied enough. ILM Level 3 in Management, NHS M & H trainer. H & S. Want my pension. 45 yrs NI.
“I care for my partner who has severe heart failure. At 60 I would be gutted that I would be stealing an apprentice ship from young.”
Another, Carol Billett, tweeted: “So maybe us Waspi Campaign women can all be become sorcerers apprentices and magic a pension! Guy Opperman, you’re a disgrace!”
Just to clear it was the LABOUR party which brought in this policy and has no plans to reverse it if elected to government. The CON-DEMS extended the qualifying age for women's pensions by up to two years in some cases but were not the first to abolish them.