News story

9th December 2002

Steve Webb "Addresses the Nation!"

Local MP Steve Webb will this week use a specially produced broadcast on Channel 4 to step up his campaign for justice in women’s pensions. The MP was given the opportunity to produce an edition of the Channel 4 “Political Slot” programme which will be broadcast at 7.55pm on Wednesday 11th December, just after Channel 4 News. The short programme is presented by Steve Webb and features an interview with Mrs. Margaret Watts, a Weymouth pensioner who has worked with Steve Webb to set up a nationwide network of women who are unhappy at the way the National Insurance system has left them with tiny pensions—in some cases as little as seven pence a week. The programme also features Steve Webb on Weymouth beach drawing figures in the sand to illustrate the problem, and calling on the Government to investigate the complaints of these women.

Speaking about the broadcast, Steve Webb, who is the Lib Dems’ spokesman in Parliament on pensions issues, said:

“It was a great opportunity to be able to produce this short programme on an issue on which I have been campaigning in Parliament. Too many women have got a raw deal out of the state pension system and this programme provides an ideal opportunity to make people aware of the problems that women face.”

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