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Strong Local Voice, Strong Local ChampionAnnette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole |
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Compensation for Mid Dorset and North Poole's Equitable Life victims is long overdue - Annette Brooke
May 27, 2010 3:15 PM
Victims of the Equitable Life collapse can finally expect compensation as Liberal Democrat MPs push forward new legislation.
Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Annette Brooke, described the announcement as a "massive relief" for the millions of people who lost up to half their pensions in the collapse.
The Equitable Life Bill, which was outlined to the House of Commons yesterday [Wednesday], will give the Treasury the authority to make payments to policyholders or dependents who have been fighting the Labour Government for compensation since 2000.
A previous Liberal Democrat motion to get compensation for the millions of people involved was defeated in October 2009.
Commenting, Annette said:
"The previous Government continually ignored the millions of people who lost their savings.
"People in Dorset lost up to half their pensions in the fiasco yet Labour failed to act, ignoring Liberal Democrat advice, ignoring the High Court and ignoring an Ombudsman report.
"This Bill is a massive relief to thousands of pensioners and is long overdue.
"I am delighted that something the Liberal Democrats have been calling for can now finally happen. We are using our position in Government to give policyholders the money they deserve."