Healey hits out over pension changes for women: VOTE

He claimed that the plans would hit the poorest and women hardest—when women already have lower earnings, lower savings and lower pensions.

About 500,000 women aged now 56 or 57 will have to work up to two years longer under the proposals.

Mr Healey said: “It's unnecessary and unfair for the government to move the goalposts so late, when women won't be able to change their plans.

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“I've been contacted by women who, after working for 30 or 40 years, have already started preparing for retirement, by reducing their hours or taking on more responsibilities like caring for elderly parents or grandchildren.

“Now they are told they could have to work for another two years and they'll lose £10,000 in pension income.

“It's another sign the Government is out of touch and has no idea what life is like for most people—and how much tougher they're making it.”

Mr Healey is compiling a report to be given to the Chancellor George Osborne on the impact of the pension age changes on local people and wants concerned constituents to contact him to tell their story.

Pensions minister Steve Webb said: “In a country where ten million of us will live to be 100, we simply can't go on paying the state pension at an age that was set early in the last century.

“Although women will experience the rise in the state pension age more quickly than previously planned, they will still draw the state pension for an average of 23 years.

“Someone retiring today on a full basic state pension will receive £15,000 more over their retirement than they would have done under the old prices link.”