Portcullis House “Drop In” Event at Parliament on 9/9/25
Elaine Stewart said “I have heard from many of my constituents who find themselves in hardship due to the pre-1997 issue. I’m hosting this meeting to give MPs and members of the House of Lords the opportunity to hear from those impacted. Pensioners from across the UK will be in attendance to talk about the impact on them of the many years without increases”
As if on cue, the sun was shining as the 14 members of the Pre-97 Alliance met face to face for the first time at the security entrance of Portcullis House at 8 a.m. on Tuesday 9/9 during the chaos of the tube strike. Our host, Elaine Stewart, MP Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock greeted Alliance & HPPA Leader Patricia Kennedy and we all followed Elaine’s lead to Room P – our base for the next 1.5 hours.
Alliance Members included-
Keith Appleyard, pensioner of American Express
Doug Arnold, pensioner of HPE
Roy Davies, pensioner of Wood Group
Jane Foley, pensioner of HPE
Jim Harrison, pensioner of Lloyds Register
Paul Kelsey, pensioner of HPE
Norton Hawes, pensioner of HPE
John Springall, pensioner of HPE
Steve Ladle, pensioner of Chevron
Godfrey Thomas, pensioner of ATOS/SEMA
John Tissington, pensioner of AIG
Bob Trease, pensioner of HPE
Peter Weston, pensioner of ATOS/SEMA
11 companies with a total of 188 years without pension increases!
We knew the room was going to be small, but we didn’t know it would be full of a conference table and lots of chairs. Nonetheless, immediately after arrival our first guests began to arrive. It quickly became a very full house.
MPS & Lords –
|
First |
Surname |
Party |
Constituency |
|
|
Lord Bryn |
Davies |
L |
|
|
|
Dr Scott |
Arthur |
L |
Edinburgh South West |
|
|
Alex |
Brewer |
LD |
Northeast Hampshire |
|
|
Danny |
Beales |
L |
Uxbridge & South Ruislip |
|
|
Sarah |
Bool |
C |
South Northamptonshire |
|
|
Julia |
Buckley |
L |
Shrewsbury |
|
|
Steve |
Darling |
LD |
Torbay |
|
|
Ann |
Davies |
PC |
Caerfyrddin |
|
|
Sir Ashley |
Fox |
C |
Bridgwater |
|
|
Sir Roger |
Gale |
C |
Herne Bay & Sandwich |
|
|
Alan |
Gemmell |
L |
Central Ayrshire |
Separate mtg PK |
|
Andrew |
George |
LD |
St Ives |
|
|
Dame Nia |
Griffith |
L |
Llanelli / Aelod Seneddol dros Lanelli |
|
|
Claire |
Hughes |
L |
Bangor Aberconwy |
Staff member |
|
Bernard |
Jenkin |
C |
Harwich & North Essex |
|
|
Clive |
Jones |
LD |
Wokingham |
Roz Betteridge staff |
|
Lillian |
Jones |
L |
Kilmarnock & Loudoun |
|
|
Julia |
Lopez |
C |
Hornchurch & Upminster |
Rachel Jeffery staff |
|
Helen |
Maguire |
LD |
Epsom & Ewell |
Will Robertson staff |
|
Frank |
McNally |
L |
Coatsbridge & Bellshill |
|
|
Helen |
Morgan |
LD |
North Shropshire |
|
|
Luke |
Murphy |
L |
Basingstoke |
|
|
Susan |
Murray |
LD |
Mid Dunbartonshire |
|
|
Caroline |
Noakes |
C |
Romsey and Southampton North |
|
|
Ben |
Obese-Jecty |
C |
Huntingdon |
Henry Gray staff |
|
Manuela |
Perteghella |
LD |
Stratford on Avon |
|
|
Dr Al |
Pinkerton |
LD |
Surrey Heath |
|
|
Joshua |
Reynolds |
LD |
Maidenhead |
|
|
Marie |
Rimmer |
L |
St Helens South & Whiston |
|
|
Gregory |
Stafford |
C |
Farnham & Bordon |
|
|
Elaine |
Stewart |
L |
|
|
|
Kirsteen |
Sullivan |
LD |
Bathgate & Linlithgow |
|
|
Peter |
Swallow |
L |
Bracknell |
|
|
Steve |
Yemm |
L |
Mansfield |
|
And then the magic started. Dame Nia Griffith and Sir Roger Gale asked about what we wanted to happen. A new Alliance member, Jim Harrison, the former head of Legal for Lloyd’s Register, asked to address the group. Jim had brought with him a draft amendment.
Wow! That was completely unexpected. A brilliant and elegant solution. I hope that you will understand that we cannot share the amendment publicly right now. The past 28 years has shown that although the Pre-97 Pension “problem” has faded into the background without justice, there remains resistance to solving the problem. Please be assured that we will share the amendment and our plans as soon as we can.
Sir Roger and Dame Nia then discussed if the amendment would fit with the scope of Bill 255. It is the “long title” of the Bill that is central to that decision. And Manuela Perteghella MP appeared with a copy of the Bill in hand!
After Sir Roger and Dame Nia’s review of the long title, it was agreed that the amendment could be considered in scope of Bill 255.
Next consideration – could the amendment be laid in the current phase of the Bill Committee? Just then, 2 members of the Bill Committee, Steve Darling MP and John Milne MP, arrived and were able to update us on the line-by-line review and where the Committee currently were working. The review goes line by line but only forward in the text of the bill. It was determined that the Committee had passed the point where the amendment could be attached. That was the deciding factor in our plan to lay the amendment in the “report stage” and when the Bill reaches the House of Lords.
The reasons for the dividing line of 1997 have largely disappeared over time. Recent TPR data shows that 83% of members of DB schemes receive some form of indexation. Only 17% do not. Within that 17%, the majority of these pensioners are part of a small number of large schemes, like ours.
Results of the event:
- Increased understanding of the Pre-97 pension injustice by a larger group of MPs
- Draft amendment proposed for laying at report phase of Bill 255 and House of Lords
- Sir Roger Gale and Dame Nia Griffith to lead on the translation of the draft into parliamentary form
- Lord Davies of Brixton to assist when amendment gets to House of Lords
- Another event being arranged for the members of the House of Lords, week of 27 October
Patricia and the Alliance will assist at all stages.
Thank you for your continuing donations. They really do support our work by keeping our software platforms functioning and reimbursing members’ significant travel costs. All members of the Pre-97 Alliance are unpaid volunteers and try to pay their own way.
Please stay in touch with the campaign and spread the word by viewing our YouTube channel
Pre-97 Pension Justice @Pre-97PensionJustice
Some images from the day.
