A 99-year-old Second World War veteran travelled an incredible 4,400 miles to raise awareness of the ‘frozen’ State Pension issue with the Prime Minister but was left “bitterly disappointed” after failing to secure a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer. Anne Puckridge is among nearly half a million UK State Pensioners whose pensions have remained static at the level they were at the time of their emigration instead of rising annually as they do for those residing within Britain.
During the war, she served in an air defence unit and worked decoding messages as an officer in the Women’s Royal Indian Naval Service. At present, her weekly Basic State Pension stands at merely £72.50, far short of the £169.50 she argues she would be entitled to had she not moved abroad. In 2001, Mrs Puckridge relocated to Canada to be nearer to family members, having spent her working life in the UK until the age of 76, where she made all required tax and National Insurance contributions.
Even though a Tuesday (December 3) appointment was honoured by Pensions Minister, Emma Reynolds, Mrs Puckridge was left disheartened by her inability to meet Sir Keir when submitting a letter at Downing Street on Thursday. She conveyed her feelings: “Whilst I was appreciative of the minister’s time, it was bitterly disappointing to hear no sign of intent to move past the same old platitudes that this policy remains too hard and too expensive to fix.”
Mrs Puckridge travelled nearly 5,000 miles to the UK, only to be left disheartened by the Prime Minister’s refusal to meet with her. In her latest letter to him, she wrote: “I wish to stress that I have travelled nearly 5,000 miles, not for myself, but for all those impacted. I was merely asking for the opportunity to outline to you personally how the policy affects us.” She received a written response from the Prime Minister last week, but still holds out hope for a face-to-face meeting.
Now, an online petition calling on Sir Keir to meet with her has garnered over 136,000 signatures, with supporters including actress and activist Dame Joanna Lumley, who has spoken out against the policy, saying: “Times may be tough and challenging. But I urge the powers that be to be mindful that many of those affected by this cruel policy served Britain through even tougher times. I think swathes of the country will find it simply unthinkable that brave men and women such as Anne should be treated this way.”
Lumley emphasises: “Some of the affected pensioners, like her, served our country in its most perilous days. They did right by the country, so surely the country should now do right by them.”
On Wednesday, Gregory Stafford, MP raised the issue during PMQs, asking the Prime Minister to reconsider his decision not to meet with Mrs Puckridge, who was present in the public gallery. Sir Keir sidestepped the direct inquiry, instead saying: “I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue. I think he will well know and understand that our position is a continuation of the position under the last Government.”
During her time in London, Mrs Puckridge emphasised her role as a representative for the 453,000 expats plagued by stagnant State Pensions by commenting: “My request to the Prime Minister, that he meet with me, is not for my personal benefit, but is a request made on behalf of more than 450,000 frozen pensioners around the world suffering as much, and in many cases far more, than me.” She openly stated her disappointment, saying, “Once so very proud of being British, I now feel ashamed of my country.”
A spokesperson for the Government responded by highlighting the nation’s appreciation of its veterans and their families, “We are deeply proud of our veterans and their families for the contribution they make to our country. Theirs is the ultimate public service, and their professionalism and bravery is rightly respected across the world.”
They added an explanation regarding retiring abroad and its financial consequences: “We understand people move abroad for many reasons, and we provide clear information on how this can impact their finances in retirement – with the policy on the uprating of the UK State Pension for recipients living overseas a longstanding one.”
The ongoing so-called ‘Frozen Pensions Scandal’ continues to impact 40% of all British pensioners living abroad, barring them from receiving annual increments to their UK State Pension based on their location in ‘frozen rate’ countries such as Canada and Australia. State Pensions are set to rise by 4.1 per cent in April next year as part of the annual uprating. Those on the full New State Pension will see their weekly payments increase from £221.20 to £230.25, a rise of £9.05. This translates to a four-weekly payment of £921 and an annual boost of £473.60, taking the total from £11,502 to £11,973 for the 2025/26 financial year. Similarly, those on the full Basic State Pension will see their weekly payments go up from £169.50 to £176.45, a rise of £6.95.
This equates to a four-weekly payment of £705.80 and an annual increase of £361.40, taking the total from £8,814 to £9,175.40 for the 2025/26 financial year. More information about the ‘End Frozen Pensions’ campaign can be found here.
