In Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday Kevin Brennan accused the Tory pension spokesman of privately writing to his backbenchers telling them not to sign EDM 200 calling for compensation for workers at Allied Steel and Wire and elsewhere who have lost their occupational pensions through insolvency.   

In the Western Mail of 22nd January David Willetts, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has denied Mr Brennan’s accusation but today the evidence can be published (please see attached).  Mr Brennan is making public the text of the letter to Tory backbenchers circulated by Nigel Waterson MP, Tory front bench spokesperson on pensions. 

In it the Opposition’s backbenchers were instead urged to sign another EDM, tabled by the Conservative front bench, which does not call for compensation.

Said Kevin Brennan “It is totally unacceptable for the Conservative front bench to pretend to support these workers, while encouraging their own MPs not to support a motion calling for compensation. 

I welcome support for compensation from MPs of any party, but feigning support for these workers’ case is a cruel deception.”