FOLLOWING an item of news (Echo, Jan 28) about the coalition Government’s proposal to accelerate the increase in women’s state pension age I’d like to point out to women born after March 6, 1954, that it is they who are going to have to accept a further increase of two years to their retirement age, having already had four years added by the previous government.

It hasn’t passed into law yet, but it’s no good sitting back and allowing it to happen without protest and then playing up hell when you realise you still have another six years to work when you reach 60.

MP Rachel Reeves, Labour’s shadow minister for pensions, is planning to table an amendment against this part of the Government’s Pensions Bill.

Those affected still have time to contact their MP and ask them to vote for the amendment.

There are only 30,000 of us women affected in this way. The Government is not concerned about us as individuals with plans for retirement, but is using us as sacrificial lambs to rush this unfair increase through.

Please protest now.

Babz Bates (Mrs), Shildon, Co Durham