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ID: 155423

WASPI's Is (Mostly) a campaign for inequality / Pemberton, Hugh

Pemberton, Hugh	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) has mounted a vociferous campaign for full compensation to be given to ‘1950s women’ who, it argues, have suffered severe financial hardship as a result of the rise in their state pension age from age 60. That campaign has gained significant political traction, with much sympathy expressed for the plight of those affected and acceptance (most notably by the Scottish National Party and the Labour Party) that some form of compensation is urgently needed. But WASPI fails to acknowledge the rise in the state pension age's roots in the fight for women's equality, disregards the fact that the problems experienced by this cohort as they near retirement are faced by both women and men and glosses over the fact that the increase in pension age above 65 applies to both genders equally. Its campaign obscures deeper and more important issues in old-age income replacement.

Key Words

Gender Inequality ; WASPI ; UK State Pension ; Department of Work and Pensions ; Intergenerational Inequality

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ID: 092649

Winter of discontent in British politics / Black, Lawrence; Pemberton, Hugh

Black, Lawrence	Journal Article
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Publication

2009.

Summary/Abstract

Hay's argument that the 'winter of discontent' was essentially a manufactured crisis was discussed at the British Academy on the thirtieth anniversary of the 22 January 1979 public sector 'day of action'. In the edited transcript of that discussion which we publish here, three contemporary actors offer some support for, but also clear rejoinders to Hay. David Lea applauds the credit Hay gives to the efforts of the unions to make pay policy work in the late-1970s. David Lipsey argues Hay is wrong, it was a real crisis (albeit part of a battle between two very crude political narratives) and one in which the unions essentially betrayed the Labour government's attempts to sustain social democracy. Kenneth Baker also thinks the crisis was real, but he sees it as the inevitable end of Britain's postwar settlement. A number of other distinguished commentators also offer their perspective.

Key Words

Labour Party ; Keynesianism ; Strikes ; Thatcherism ; Trade Unionism ; 1979 General Election

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