Campaign Collective was commissioned by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on State Pension Inequality for Women to undertake a consultation on transitional arrangements for 1950’s-born women who had been affected by state pension changes and to use the findings to help prepare a draft Private Members’ Bill.
When the APPG on State Pension Inequality for Women was first formed it was focused on the WASPI Campaign. But WASPI later split into several different groups due to disagreements on the aim of the campaign.
The APPG wanted to advocate for all women who had suffered detriment following changes to the state pension age, but their task was becoming increasingly complex due to the different points of view and solutions presented by each of the groups.
Campaign Collective agreed the methodology for the consultation and next steps with the joint Chairs of the APPG, Carolyn Harris MP and Tim Loughton MP.
We designed a short survey and circulated it to established campaign groups who had agreed positions in order to find areas of commonality. Transparency around the survey was essential to maintain faith in the process so the names and memberships were published in the report together with the methodology.
Campaign Collective analysed the results and drafted a report and executive summary. The results were distilled into 8 key impacts experienced by women across 116 local and national campaign groups. Lived experience and quotes from the respondents were included to bring the report to life.
The report concluded with a set of ranked solutions and costings. It was presented to members of the APPG and representatives from each of the campaign groups at an event in the House of Commons.
The results informed a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Carolyn Harris MP. Campaign Collective worked with Carolyn’s staff and the House of Commons Public Bill office to prepare the Pensions (review of Women’s Arrangements) (No. 2) Bill. It called for a review of pension arrangements for women affected by changes made by the Pensions Act 1995 and 2011 and to undertake costings for a compensation scheme.
The MPs were able to use the report to seek meetings with Government to discuss solutions and this received media coverage in the FT Adviser, iNews and Pension Age.