Outgoing board members of the Women Against State Pensions Inequality (Waspi) campaign are threatening to hold up a legal case against the government over disputes about their successors.
In a note posted on Twitter yesterday (14 March) the campaign group said former directors who resigned from the group earlier this year had lodged a formal objection to the new leadership, which meant a legal case brought by the group could now not go ahead.
According to Companies House, Jane Cowley, Angela Christina Madden, Susan Beevers, Carole Archibald and Jane Carolan resigned from the group on 20 February.
They were replaced on 21 February by Patricia Tarttelin, Cheryl Anne Sloan, Lila Bennett and Rosemary Dickson.
The note stated: “We are sad to report that some of the former directors appear to have lodged a formal objection to the new leadership disputing the validity of the new board.
“This means that the new board cannot instruct Bindmans.
“However we are confident that this will only be a temporary measure.”
The Waspi campaign is fighting to help women affected by an increase in the state pension age to 65 – the same age as for men.
The movement claims that while the 1995 Conservative government's Pensions Act included plans to increase the women's state pension age the changes were implemented unfairly, with little or no personal notice.
The group also said changes were implemented faster than promised with the 2011 Pension Act and left women with no time to make alternative plans, leading to devastating consequences.
It is in the process of taking legal action against the government over the issue, having hired law firm Bindmans.
Despite current the disruptions, the group pledged it would “continue the momentum” particularly with regards to the mass maladministration case it is trying to bring.
It also pledged ongoing political and legal activity through its media partner Connect.
carmen.reichman@ft.com
