London Drop-in Session - 22 October 2024

32 views
Skip to first unread message

Paul Swain

unread,
Oct 6, 2024, 12:34:09 PMOct 6
to bapa...@googlegroups.com

Hi Everyone!

Now that all the re-elected and newly elected UK MPs are settled into their offices, BPiA is going to run a frozen pensions drop-in session in London to make sure that they are aware of the frozen pensions issue.

Could you please help out by contacting the UK MP for your previous constituency and letting them know about the session.

BPiA are suggesting a message like the following, though the more that you can personalise it (especially the first few paragraphs), the better.  That will reduce the chance that it is regarded as a "mass campaign":

Dear [MP NAME],

I am a former resident of [CONSTITUENCY] now living in Australia.

I am an innocent victim of the UK’s ‘frozen pensions’ policy. I am being denied the yearly uprating of my UK state pension, meaning the value of my state pension decreases year on year due to inflation.

I look to you to do something to end this unfair treatment.

I wasn’t informed that my state pension would be frozen when I moved abroad.

It's upsetting to me to know that, had I moved to the Philippines or to Turkey, my state pension would be being uprated. In fact, most pension recipients living outside the UK have their pensions uprated. Only a small minority of pensioners, for no logical reason, are in the same situation as I am.

I would be grateful if you could spare time to attend an End Frozen Pensions campaign event taking place on 22nd October, 12pm-2pm in Room U, Portcullis House. The event will explain the severe financial and emotional difficulties the ‘frozen pensions’ policy causes people like me.

I am confident that once you understand the unfairness of the policy, the illogicality of the policy and how hollow the justifications for its continuance are, you will support a move to end the ‘frozen pensions’ policy.

For information on the End Frozen Pensions Campaign event and to register your attendance, please contact m...@tendoconsulting.co.uk.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this letter, I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,


If you don’t know who your current MP in the UK is, or what his or her email address is, you can find the information by searching at https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP  Use your last address in the UK when searching.


It's just over 2 weeks until 22 October, so please send your message as soon as possible so that there is the best chance possible that the session will get into your MP's diary.

Thanks


Paul




Tony Hussey

unread,
Oct 7, 2024, 12:14:18 AMOct 7
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
I have just sent a letter by email to my UK MP. If you are a registered overseas voter in his/her constituency I think this should be stated. If we want our letters read we should also  avoid verbosity and unnecessary repetition

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "BAPA" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to bapanews+u...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bapanews/a2e3f887-d501-4ae7-99c5-909a9544f6f1%40zaparaxy.net.

elizabeth Harvey

unread,
Oct 7, 2024, 1:09:43 AMOct 7
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
Thank you.

 I am a little concerned at the moment that with the sad state of politics in UK at present they might cut o'seas pensions entirely, is this a possibility do you think?

Regards
Elizabeth

Barry Smith

unread,
Oct 7, 2024, 1:09:56 AMOct 7
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
Have sent letter as requested
Sent from my iPhone

On 7 Oct 2024, at 3:14 PM, Tony Hussey <tonyhu...@gmail.com> wrote:



John Wilson

unread,
Oct 7, 2024, 12:01:24 PMOct 7
to bapa...@googlegroups.com

IMO, I think they couldn’t run the risk that affected (frozen) pensioners might return back to the UK (potentially at a lot greater cost than leaving the status quo asis).

Mave

unread,
Oct 7, 2024, 1:21:56 PMOct 7
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
Done!  I live in Canada and I edited my email to them to reflect that.  I have received an email back to say I am in the lineup for a response. We shall see.🤞🤞🤞
Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 6, 2024, at 10:14 PM, Tony Hussey <tonyhu...@gmail.com> wrote:



Paul Swain

unread,
Oct 8, 2024, 1:24:25 AMOct 8
to bapa...@googlegroups.com

elizabeth Harvey wrote on 7/10/2024 11:36 am:

 I am a little concerned at the moment that with the sad state of politics in UK at present they might cut o'seas pensions entirely, is this a possibility do you think?

Hi Elizabeth!

I don't see this as a possibility.  

If it did happen, I am sure that it would galvanise governments around the world to rise up in protest, and I'm pretty sure that the UK can't afford that at the moment.


Paul


Sandi Beaumont

unread,
Oct 8, 2024, 4:05:24 PMOct 8
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
Done with a few additional facts! Hope there's a good attendance to get our message across.
Sandi

Sandi Beaumont

unread,
Oct 11, 2024, 5:32:01 PMOct 11
to BAPA
Hi everyone, 
Received this reply from my UK Conservative MP. Reading his reply I get the impression that this is a generic reply, that my genuine concerns do not count and as such dismissed. Has anyone else received a similar reply I wonder?

Dear Ms Beaumont, 

Thank you for contacting me about the End Frozen Pensions Campaign.
 
The UK State Pension is payable worldwide and is uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so. I understand, however, that in most overseas countries, the Government does not have an agreement for securing the social security rights of people moving between the two countries. As a result, pensioners who move to these countries still receive the State Pension but do not have their payments uprated as UK residents do.
 
It is for the Government to decide to negotiate with other countries on this matter and the current policy on the State Pension overseas is the long-standing and unchanged position of successive Governments and this is unlikely to change.
 
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me but I am afraid that I am unable to support this campaign.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Ashley Fox MP

This has made me even more determined to continue the fight for justice.
Sandi

Di Crabtree

unread,
Oct 12, 2024, 1:19:01 AMOct 12
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
Hi Sandi

Yes that's almost word for word what I received the last time I contacted my MP, although she did say that it's the response from the Minister/Ministry of Whatever who she had contacted. So yes, it's obviously their standard waffle.

I'm still waiting to hear back from my new MP (Liberal) who I suspect will say exactly the same thing!

Anyway all we can do is keep trying, but it's very disheartening to receive so little empathy for our situation.

Best wishes, 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "BAPA" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to bapanews+u...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit

Paul Moore

unread,
Oct 12, 2024, 1:19:26 AMOct 12
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
That is  absolute waffle and still doesnt explain the  reason for this injustice. However the clue may be in Fox MPs letter. We should perhaps get some legal advice as to whether it is illegal  not to have pension payments  uprated. 
My MP,s reply, which i have posted elsewhere, said that as he was a new MP it would take some time for him to turn his attention to this matter.
regards
Paul Moore

Sent from my iPad

On 12 Oct 2024, at 08:32, Sandi Beaumont <sbeau...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi everyone, 

Paul Moore

unread,
Oct 12, 2024, 1:19:38 AMOct 12
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
The ECHR could well decide that frozen pensions are illegal.
regards
Paul Moore
Sent from my iPad

On 12 Oct 2024, at 08:32, Sandi Beaumont <sbeau...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi everyone, 

Michael Goodall

unread,
Oct 12, 2024, 2:05:01 AMOct 12
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
Hi Paul,

It is legal discrimination written into the UK law and no judge would be able to overrule it. What is required is a new law in the UK parliament.
The ECHR has already been tried and the EU guys didn't understand the UK pension system and it was voted down 11to 6 in appeal at the Supreme Court.


Best regards,
Mike Goodall
Tel:-     +61 8 6364 0859


From: bapa...@googlegroups.com <bapa...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Paul Moore <pandj...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, 12 October 2024 6:50 AM
To: bapa...@googlegroups.com <bapa...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [bapanews] Re: London Drop-in Session - 22 October 2024
 

tan...@smartchat.net.au

unread,
Oct 12, 2024, 7:51:44 PMOct 12
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
Hi Paul Moore

Interesting comment. What is the basis for saying the ECHR could well decide that frozen pensions are illegal please?

Regards

Tony Walsh 

Sent: Friday, October 11, 2024 3:57 PM

To: bapa...@googlegroups.com <bapa...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [bapanews] Re: London Drop-in Session - 22 October 2024

Marianne

unread,
Oct 12, 2024, 9:30:26 PMOct 12
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
No point in me contacting ours, he has never responded to any email I have sent, does vote on the situation or attend the meeting - arrogant ahole that he is.

Marianne

unread,
Oct 12, 2024, 10:02:02 PMOct 12
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
Wahoo, just went in to check and finally they have come to their senses and it’s a new MP so I shall be writing to him today ☺️

M & P


Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

On Sunday, October 13, 2024, 9:51 am, 'tan...@smartchat.net.au' via BAPA <bapa...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Marcus Wigan

unread,
Oct 15, 2024, 1:26:04 AMOct 15
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
Might be time to work on local Ausyralian MPs as elections come near again- the first question for them is why they are apparently in bed with the British government on this and as a result spending much more on pensioners

Time to push both ends

Marcus Wigan
Melbourne
Sent from my iPhone

On 12 Oct 2024, at 16:19, Paul Moore <pandj...@gmail.com> wrote:

The ECHR could well decide that frozen pensions are illegal.

neil.h...@theaudiosuite.com

unread,
Oct 15, 2024, 5:32:22 AMOct 15
to bapa...@googlegroups.com
That's a great idea. It could be a very effective strategy. If nothing else it keeps the issue 'live'.

Is there a group email we could send out for consistency and accuracy?

Sincerely,

Neil.

Dr. Neil Hillman.

--
Sent with 1&1 Mail app

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages