Tory election strategy: Don’t pledge anything to 3.8 million 50s born women who lost their pensions

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Pic credit: Sky News

A leaked document in today’s Guardian revealed what Conservative Central Office has said to all its Parliamentary candidates on how to avoid giving pledges to people during the election campaign.

It covers a wide variety of issues including Brexit, the NHS, trade deals, Voter ID, private schools, rivers, climate change and shooting. But a special section has been devoted to the Waspi campaign showing that MPs are acutely aware of the demands of 3.8 million who are waiting up to six years for a pension.

The section reproduced below includes a template letter to be sent to anybody inquiring what the Conservative candidate’s views are on paying women. So you needn’t bother writing as this will be the reply. It is more about future pensions – claiming that by 2030 pensioners will be £550 a year better off under the Conservatives. It also contains a 20 year old attack line on Labour reminding people that Gordon Brown once raised pensions by only 75p a week in 2000.

The Tory advice to all candidates: Don’t sign any pledge to any WASPI or BackTo60 group

Rather extraordinarily there is one pledge all candidates can sign – that is supporting any rural sport especially shooting. Here candidates are free to support any pledges. This is almost Trumpian in its advice – put guns before pensioners.

73 thoughts on “Tory election strategy: Don’t pledge anything to 3.8 million 50s born women who lost their pensions”

  1. The tory toffs are going to lose a hell of a lot of votes it isnt just the 50s ladies votes it’s all our families and friends votes too. I am disgusted with this latest statement and I am very angry that they think they can just bin us off. Well we won’t be going in any bin or any where only the supreme court I hope…. 😡

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    • Those who reach 2030 will be lucky! We 50s women have had to sacrifice 6 years of pension and a lot of us won’t live until then. Obviously what all these parties are hoping for. Didn’t they realise that we had no time to to arrange private pensions etc. to allow for this shortfall. This is one reason why we should receive some compensation for allowing the respective governments to rob us of a decent living during our old age. By the way, they are now calling the state pension a ‘benefit’ ! It’s NOT a benefit if you’ve worked all your life and paid into it. Get a life and give us ours back!

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    • By my calculations,approx 5000 people (women,affected husbands/partners,sympathetic friends and offspring) in the average constituency will be very unhappy about the government’s refusal to be fair.Of those, 2000 will have voted tory in 2017.If 1 in 4 shift,existing tory held marginals are likely to fall.Many seats have very small tory majorities. 500 votes the other way will ensure that.
      Johnson should have remained looking a fool.However,he opened his mouth and totally proved that he is one!

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      • Thanks David Hencke for continuing to highlight the 1950s ladies plight. I smell Dominic Cummings all over this statement but I also don’t trust the financial budget management of a Labour government.

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  2. Quite amazing how it shows Labour agreed with the pension age going up in 2015. Giving a 75p rise by 2011 . As I said all along . Labour are now promising everything to the pensioners and people to get votes . They are all liars

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    • But did they, I wouldn’t believe anything the Tories said. Also aren’t we fighting because we weren’t told our SPA was going up, not fight against it going up at all. If we had all been told (by letter not in the press) when the decision was first made, it would have been fair notice and the poverty we are all dealing with could have been avoided and we would all be getting on with our lives. When these so call pieces informing us was put in the papers, I had two young children and it was ll I could to to put food on the table let alone buy newspapers and certainly had no time to read them. We didn;t the help with childcare that there is today, it is all so wrong and so unfair. Also it should have been a staged in process, adding a year to each women’s SPA at a time, not bang you have to wait up to another 6 years, which is the case with me. I know Labour are not perfect, but they are for the people and not just lining the pockets of the rich. Hopefully Labour will come good and I won’t be eating my words

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  5. Let’s hope they all point the guns and shoot each other, words fail me Boris and Co have got to go and Labour better start listening.

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    • I’m am sorry for this posting, I hate guns and feel ashamed for have saying what I did/ It is sad that we are all being lead to saying things we would never under normal circumstances, I hate feeling so desperate and ignored. We are all women who have worked hard in one way or another all our lives and the payback we have received is despicable and although all parties have contributed over the years, it will only take one or the courts to put this right and allow us 50s women to live what time we have left, with a modicum of self respect and free of poverty, although for many the damage will be irreparable.

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      • Don’t worry when I read your comment I never took offence. I’m old school!! I’m totally with you on this… I earn very little a month & can never pay all my bills. Npower & the Council Tax are approx £1000.00 that I owe. I rob Peter to pay Paul & have to watch what I spend on groceries. As for Christmas, ‘What’s that then’?? With my mortgage which is small & my debts added to it I owe about £35,000.00. I’m 62, miserable & very unhappy that the rich in Politics can so easily dismiss us women. My Mum & Dad enjoyed their retirement for only 12 & 13 years before they died. As my health isn’t good it wouldn’t surprise me if I died in my early 70’s… I might get just 4 years to get enjoyment out of my retirement & all Thanks to Fat Cat Politicians who think they are far better than women. The proof is out there for all to see, we are disrespected & never talked about by the PM or Politicians who flick off our needs like flicking off the fly that’s just s**t on their posh suit!!!

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      • Julie,
        Your circumstances are sadly far too common for 50s born women which is why I am determined to follow this through. It is a big injustice and what makes me mad is that it is kept far too low profile in the media!

        Liked by 1 person

    • Have any of you seen Naga Munchetty on breakfast show interviewing Doris Johnson? She asked him how do you think voters can identify with you. He was absolutely incoherent, could not get a word out. It was truly a performance of a postering buffoon. In the end he managed to splutter(and he really did splutter) that of course I had wonderful parents. I can’t even find it now, whether its been pulled or not I don’t know. But, the papers have it. That privileged prat is in charge of my life. Please tell us all God what can we do?

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  6. Don’t think I’ll be voting for Labour or Tories gang of liars and full of broken promises and false new….. I am one more of the 1950s women waiting for my pension Wouldn’t trust them with a paper round all can f—k off

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  8. @David Henke polite request ! Do you think you could put a FB share link on here please as most 50s women use this method to spread the word …many thanks 😁

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  10. Even if we eventually received £550 per year extra, we would have to live in retirement for 81 years (to 147) to compensate for the £40,000 plus we have lost over 6 years. How is that an improvement?

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  11. Has anybody even given us a mention in their policies yet? Corban said he was about to make a statement last week Still waiting or have I missed it!

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  13. just make sure your vote does the maximum amount of damage to any tory candidate where you live. this is about voting the tories out. they robbed us of our pensions .

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    • Labour and the Liberal Democrats are culpable too. If Labour hadn’t paved the way for SPa to increase to 66 the Coalition government couldn’t have brought forward the increase in 2011. And if the Lib Dems – including Jo Swinson – hadn’t voted in favour of the 2011 legislation it might not have made it on to the statute book. Labour was in power from 1997 – 2010 and made no attempt to communicate the 1995 SPa change to women despite research commissioned by the DWP telling them quite clearly that many women – particularly women who would be most dependent on the state pension – did not know about the increase in SPa from 60 to 65.

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      • I totally agree with you . As you said labour put the policy in . And all have lied and done the dirty on us . People seem to forget . Just because Corbyn promises the earth . I don’t believe him. It appalling the way we have been treated .no notice no nothing. And the money by all parties that is being wasted is appalling. The Lib Dem’s and plaid also Green Party are to small . And now farage. Has pulled a fast one . There is not one you can trust all looking for votes and looking after their own pockets..

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      • That is absolutely correct. I bet they are glad that they are not taking the flack now. But, they did stab us, the workers in the back. Knowingly and deliberately. There is now no one to vote for. I’ve been a democrat all my life and Clegg went in with Tories and blew us all away. When the December election is over they will be all be splintered. And still, no one to vote for.

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  15. That is how guilty they know they are of the theft of state pension from 3.8 million women, to have to invent a back up plan in writing so thier lies tally.
    Totally appalling let’s make sure they loose 3.8 million votes

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  18. Would not expect any different from conservatives. I do not recognise this party any more it’s the most callous, self centred bunch of egotistical idiots I’ve ever had the misfortune to see. The way we are treated is abysmal but for any supposedly intelligent person to come out with the statement about people trapped in the worst tower block fire indicating these poor soles didn’t use common sense, incensed me to total repulsion.

    No one asked to be in the situation these poor soles found themselves in. They did as they were advised by professionals they were not to blame for their situation. The building regulators, inspectors and the government were to blame.

    As ever these crass in human comments should be no shock to any of us but the depth of their morality, humanity is below contempt there a bloody disgrace. Rhys Mogg has only put yet another nail in the coffin of the Conservatives.

    The 50’s women their families and friends and the rest of the UK can see you for what you are.
    Liars –
    Egotistical – Conceited
    Abominable – Hateful
    Charlatans – Fakes
    Hustlers – Push or force by rough or illegal means
    Empty – Lacking in substance
    Shallow – Superficial

    Says it all LEACHES

    You will be shown the same respect you’ve shown to the 50’s women. Don’t waste your time expecting my vote.

    Dee

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  20. Oh how very sad that this country is being run by such a bunch of over-privileged, pathetic, inhumane t*****s.
    I agree, it seems they have to get their “story straight”- to cover up their awful wrong doing.
    Bring on Labour!

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    • I think legislation needs to be brought in that MPs are not entitled to their pensions until they are at least 70. Of course they don’t need any prior notice of these changes !

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  21. I really feel sick to my stomach of their behaviour towards us at our age,robbing our money that belongs to us,..discusting people…leaving us in this state for the rest of our days….I pray our God almighty will help us ,because our Government has taken what we have earned….keep your chin up ladies and pray about this….God bless to you all…

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  23. Absolutely disgusting.Thieves and vagabonds the lot of them. They could start by taking monies from the 13.4 billion we send abroad for a start. It seems to me all politicians are lying scumbags!

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    • I’m also paid in for 40 years Full Time
      Work. Never Had a day sick. Or claimed Benefits. No kids so no family allowence claims..
      I AM VOTING for the Brexit Party .
      Ex UKIP and BNP

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  28. I think that is totally disgusting and an infringement of our human rights how dare the conservatives say that ,it’s us voters who keep them in power yet they betray us they don’t deserve to have the privelidge of being able to speak for us or play god with our lives we put them in power if they are going to rob us of our right to a pension and treat us with disrespect then the time has come for us to vote them out and have someone in power who is worthy to be in power and someone who is going to have respect for the women who are responsible for future generations to come DOWN WITH THE TORYS POWER TO WOMEN

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  29. Re: General election:There Is No Alternative. Both Labour, Conservatives and Liberal coalition were involved in the ‘misappropriation’ of the £271billion from the NI Pot. Liberals should be taken to court by Trading Standards to drop the ‘Democrats’ from their party name as they had no intention of ever upholding democracy; they have, at least, been consistent, in as much as they have always intended not to abide by the referendum vote (we can keep having referenda until we get the answer they want!) As I’m not a Scot, a vote for the other small parties will just be a waste. That only leaves Brexit – oh dear! What have that bunch of dishonest liars done to us? Not voting would be anathema to me and who on earth do you vote for tactically to keep out the parties you do not want among a bunch of self-serving liars? Another hung parliament seems infinitely possible. None of them will give unqualified support to the women who have been cheated.Where are Oliver Cromwell, Guy Fawkes and Robin Hood when we need them?

    Also, people keep saying, as women weren’t told, they had no chance to make up pensions. They had no chance anyway; should they have not had/abandoned their children and 24/7 household duties and, having been discriminated against all their working lives, how were they to get jobs of a sufficient level to top up their pension pots to the same level as men’s?

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  32. I have just read a comment from the woman hoping to replace deputy labour leader Tom Watson. She is basically hoping to extend maternity pay for women to 12 months. She wants women to be able to choose their own working hours. She wants equal pay, which it apparently already is but there was no mention in all her ‘for women’ talk about 50’s womens pensions!!!! All the party’s are as bad as each other promising billions here, there and everywhere but completely ignoring us!!! I don’t think I will be voting for any of them!

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  34. Thank you for publishing this -it has been my experience that this is the Conservative attitude.
    So, 3.8 million votes will simply be made elsewhere.
    Oh how the mighty will fall.

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  36. Conservatives need to explain why they withheld the contributions we 50s women paid in instead of using the monies to fund other things. Labour are just as bad as they knew what consecutive governments did and the shortfall that was going to happen for these ladies. It only affects a certain age group not everybody so do the decent thing and give us our money back. No money no vote and see which Government makes it to number 10

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  37. born in 1957 had to go 3 days aweek through health 3 jobs 4 30 start dont know how to use my vote but will keep fighting for all the women and men worse off than me thankyou thankyou

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  38. It just shows how the lies and excuses keep dripping from BJ’s mouth. How they can treat people like this is beyond me. The shame of what he has done is abominable. In public let everyone think he is going to help, then privately tell people not to address us.Then we receive emails from his party asking us to donate to help. PAH!!! Give us our pensions, then we MIGHT help. Also, what gives our Govs the right to say we can live on 12,000 per anum, when they take at least 66,000 per anum plus massive expense claims for food, heating, second houses etc etc etc. 3 million votes can do him some damage. Has he not realised this??? Is he so stupid and up his own backside to think other voters may just back us, to which he loses more than 3 million votes. One last thing, his brexit deal stinks.

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  39. Thank you so much David Hencke for your continuous support of us 50’s born women .

    It is SO SO SO Unjust and I cannot understand why more people are not supporting us.
    I think its probably a case of ‘I ‘m all right Jack and to tell with you’ 😡 where are people’s moral concienceses??
    This is so wrong what is happening in our country, are the’ powers to be’ not ashamed of themselves the way they have treated us 50’s born women.
    Thank you again for your support and of the great group ‘BACK to 60’.

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  40. Done this is what I asked, Dear Chair

    I understand your candiidates in the upcoming general election have been instructed not to “engage” with 1950’s women on the issue of their pensions. https://davidhencke.com/2019/11/06/tory-election-strategy-dont-pledge-anything-to-3-8-million-50s-born-women-who-lost-their-pensions/

    I am a 1950’s woman who would like to know is it just our pensions the non engagement instructions apply to ? Will candidates for example, be allowed to discuss the diversion of the annual payment into the pension fund to goodness knows where, initiated by Margaret Thatcher’s government. Our SP is the lowest in Europe as a result and it seems to many that to hide the shorrtfall the ridiculous plot was hatched to force pension age up, tell younger generations we are a burden they should not have to bear and tell us we are living to long. In this mix was also an attempt to claim the higher purpose of creating gender equality. How cynical, a five year old child given the facts could tell it did nothing of the sort, just robbed us of billions of pounds of our SP.

    Your party has dispelled any belief that your candidates will have any interest in representing 1950’s women if elected, despite the widely recognised injustice, they have been instructed not to “engage”. Is excluding minorities from democratic representation a policy the Tory Party intends to build on ? If so 3.8 million women already affected will be happy to publizise this policy for you

    Yours sincerely

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  41. Conservatives will lose thousands of votes in the General election if they don’t help backto60 group. We paid into the system so we could have our state pensions at 60 and you have deceitfully taken money away. It’s disgraceful. Many women in this group have decided to vote for the party that will help get our state pension back in full and sadly It doesn’t look like the tories are going to help. That is over 700,000 votes just in the backto60 group alone.

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  43. Why can’t a paper ‘HEADLINE’ the deceit past and present GOVERNMENTS have done as regards to the reasons why ‘60’s Women have had their SP delayed for up to 6yrs’

    Isn’t there one that has the ‘****’s’ to make it a Front Page headline, instead of some of
    rubbish that gets a Front Page headline!!!!!

    I thought we had FREE SPEECH in this country, but it seems the GOVERNMENT can
    dictate and preach to EVERYONE as to what they are allowed to inform or convey to the public!!!!! It seems more like a DICTATORSHIP!!!!!!

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  44. Dear Boris it is shameful you were going to help 3.8 million 1950’s born plus their supporting families, women who have paid NIC all their lives ( of which I am one ) 1955 and started full time work at age 15 only stopped when I had my children . How can you do this it’s a shame it hasn’t happened to any of your parents. I’m afraid because of this a big percentage of these ladies are set to vote labour because of you back tracking on the subject, that’s 3.8 million votes. And you have put a stop to MP,s signing the EDM 2296 . It’s our money you have no right doing this more people are dying early as extra 6 years is just not reachable I have COPD and osteoarthritis plus care for a mum with cancer…still being FORCED out to work. Marina King.

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  45. We are voting soon, and trust me, we will not vote for the CONservatives. They are lying, cheating, thugs, having robbed us of thousands of pounds.
    Retirement plans are ruined which I meticulously planned all my working life. They’re in tatters, and so is my life now.
    I have 45 years full contributions, yet I have to continue paying a further 4 years, or I won’t achieve the full SP weekly amount. 45 YEARS,!!!!
    Discrimination and blatant embezzlement. Have you heard of CEDAW? My vote is up for grabs to whoever can get me/us our Pension!

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  46. Strikes me that all politicians are untrustworthy
    I’m just hoping I survive for another 18 months to get some pension !
    Born 1955

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  47. Have any of you seen Naga Munchetty on breakfast show interviewing Doris Johnson? She asked him how do you think voters can identify with you. He was absolutely incoherent, could not get a word out. It was truly a performance of a postering buffoon. In the end he managed to splutter(and he really did splutter) that of course I had wonderful parents. I can’t even find it now, whether its been pulled or not I don’t know. But, the papers have it. That privileged prat is in charge of my life. Please tell us all God what can we do?

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  48. Born in 1955 and worked all my life.
    I’m now in my 64th year and being FORCED
    to work until I’m 66years old.
    I can promise the Conservative party they will not be getting my vote, or my family’s or my friends

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  49. The first reply I decided NOT to send ( for my eyes only ) 😐the child in me wants to say truth will out & good shall win in the end “ then I grow up turn the tv 📺 on look 👀 Boris in the eyes 👀 & realise there is NO GOD , I’m depressed & feel for every one of those laying homeless on the streets , the vast majority with no hope , 🤷‍♀️ My only hope is we’ll ALL wake up & realise it was just a surreal nightmare ,

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  50. That’s all one can expect justice will be done for the injustice they have brought to the 1950’s born women. BJ said he couldn’t magic up the money why did the take 271m from the NI fund along with other monies spent on failed projects GOVE and others.

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  51. I was going to vote conservative because I don’t have a Brexit candidate but I will now vote labour because my wife was born in the 50’s. and getting compensation for the last 6 years is more important to our generation than Brexit. I urge ALL WASPI families to vote the same way.
    Boris has dropped his biggest Bol..ck so far.

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