Anne Puckridge, a 99-year-old veteran of World War II, is setting out on a 4,400-mile trip to engage with the Prime Minister. She aims to address the concern regarding frozen pensions for British citizens residing abroad. Mrs.
Puckridge relocated to Canada in 2001, and her state pension remains at £72.50 weekly, significantly lower than the full entitlement of £169.50. She remarked, “I only wish to convey to the Prime Minister that we are suffering unjustly through no actions of our own.”
Furthermore, she said, “My appeal to the Prime Minister for a meeting is not for my own gain, but rather on behalf of over 450,000 pensioners who are experiencing the same issues, many of whom are suffering even more than I am.”
During World War II, Mrs. Puckridge was part of an air defense unit where she served as an officer in the Women’s Royal Indian Naval Service, tasked with decoding messages. She spent her professional life in the UK until the age of 76, consistently paying her taxes and national insurance. A petition requesting a meeting between the veteran and the Prime Minister has garnered more than 60,000 signatures.
Campaigning for pension equity
Actress and campaigner Dame Joanna Lumley has publicly endorsed the initiative. Lumley commented, “Though times may be challenging, I implore the decision-makers to consider that many impacted by this harsh policy have served Britain during even harsher periods.”
Thirty-two UK parliamentarians have committed to a pledge asking the UK Prime Minister to meet with Mrs. Puckridge when she visits the UK in December. Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, an opponent of the frozen pensions policy, articulated her anger, stating, “The more I hear about this policy, the more it becomes indefensible. For decades, various administrations have used figures from the Department for Work and Pensions to justify that addressing this significant injustice would incur billions.
That assertion is simply untrue.” Antoniazzi continued, “The pensioners are merely requesting an adjustment moving forward. Campaigners estimate that making such an adjustment would amount to around £50 million in the first year, a minimal fraction of the total pensions budget. In terms of the Treasury, that’s a small cost to rectify a significant and long-lasting injustice affecting generations of retirees.”
A government representative stated, “We take great pride in our veterans and their families for their contributions to our nation.
Their service is the highest form of public duty, and their courage and professionalism are rightly respected worldwide. We recognize that individuals may choose to move abroad for various reasons, and we offer clear information on how this could affect their financial situation in retirement—this policy regarding the adjustment of the UK state pension for recipients living outside the country has been longstanding.”
