Anne Puckridge is one of nearly half a million UK state pensioners whose pensions have been frozen at the level they were when they left the UK, rather than being uprated in line with payments for those who remain in Britain
Just days away from her 100th birthday, Anne Puckridge, a 99-year-old World War II veteran, is making a remarkable 4,400-mile journey with the hope of discussing with the Prime Minister the issue of frozen pensions for Brits living overseas.
Like nearly half a million UK retirees, her state pension has been frozen at the rate it was when she first emigrated—missing out on regular increases received by those in Britain. Mrs Puckridge, who moved to Canada in 2001, is getting only £72.50 a week, instead of the full £169.50 entitlement.
Amidst her preparations for the epic trip, Mrs Puckridge said: “I simply wish to outline to the Prime Minister that we unfairly suffer through no fault of our own. At my age, I have not made the decision to travel such a great distance back to the UK lightly.”
She added: “My request to the Prime Minister, that he meet with me, is not for my personal benefit, but is a request made on behalf of more than 450,000 ‘frozen’ pensioners around the world suffering as much, and in many cases far more, than me. Once so very proud of being British, I now feel ashamed of my country.”
Having served in an air defence unit and decoding messages as an officer in the Women’s Royal Indian Naval Service during WWII, Mrs Puckridge spent her working years in the UK up until she was 76, dutifully paying her taxes and national insurance. Now a stirring petition urging Sir Keir Starmer to meet with the veteran has amassed over 60,000 signatures, reports Lancs Live.
Dame Joanna Lumley, the actress and activist, has thrown her support behind the cause, stating: “Times may be tough and challenging. But I urge the powers that be to be mindful that many of those affected by this cruel policy served Britain through even tougher times.
“I think swathes of the country will find it simply unthinkable that brave men and women such as Anne should be treated this way. Some of the affected pensioners, like her, served our country in its most perilous days.”
Dame Joanna didn’t hold back as she appealed directly to the nation’s leader: “They did right by the country, so surely the country should now do right by them. I urge the Prime Minister to move mountains in his no doubt crowded diary to find a precious few minutes to meet Anne when she makes her epic trip to the UK in December.”
In a show of political solidarity, 32 UK parliamentarians have signed their names to a pledge urging the UK Prime Minister to carve out time for a meeting with Mrs Puckridge during her visit to the UK in December. This group includes 14 Labour Party members.
Tonia Antoniazzi, the Labour MP for Gower and a staunch critic of the frozen pensions policy, expressed her frustration, saying: “The more I hear about this policy the more indefensible it becomes. For decades now, successive governments have hidden behind figures from the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) suggesting that righting this great wrong would cost billions. That is simply not the case.
“The pensioners are only asking for uprating from this point going forward. Campaigners estimate that uprating on such a going forward basis would cost about £50 million in the first year, a tiny proportion of the overall pensions budget. In Treasury terms, that’s a small price to pay to address such a great and long-standing injustice that’s hit generations of pensioners. In all conscience, how can any of us look someone like Anne Puckridge in the eye and not feel that she deserves better.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We are deeply proud of our veterans and their families for the contribution they make to our country. Theirs is the ultimate public service, and their professionalism and bravery is rightly respected across the world.
“We understand people move abroad for many reasons, and we provide clear information on how this can impact their finances in retirement – with the policy on the uprating of the UK state pension for recipients living overseas a longstanding one.”
