Owen Smith MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the Government’s announcement on the formation of a review in to the future State Pension age, said:

“The Tories have a record of failing to be straight with people about the true impact of their pension policy, always keen to trumpet any potential gains from reforms, but reluctant to be honest with those set to lose out. So people are right to worry that the terms of this review may suggest that the Tory Government is set to speed up rises in the state pension age, throwing into chaos the retirement plans of millions of British workers.

“The gross mishandling of the acceleration of the state pension age for women born in the 1950s has already caused huge financial worries for 2.6 million women across the country, and the Government should consider this review an opportunity to look again at what more can be done to help those who are set to lose out.  The Government need to be honest with those women about what they now intend to do to help and honest with the rest of the population about what this review might mean for everyone’s future pension plans.”