Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied (West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats)

West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats <contact.us@westworcslibdems.org.uk>

Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied

November 25, 2008 2:18 PM

Local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt attended a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament today to support Equitable Life policy holders from Worcestershire who have written to him following the collapse of the company and the loss of their pension investments.

In the debate, Liberal Democrat MPs called on ministers to honour the decision of the ombudsman and compensate Equitable Life policy holders who have lost their pensions as a result of maladministration and a lack of regulatory control.

Speaking after the debate, Mr Burt expressed his frustration that ministers still refuse to give a firm date for a government response to policy holders who have already been waiting eight years for a settlement.

"I have received dozens of letters from Equitable Life policy holders in West Worcestershire who have lost their pension entitlement and are still waiting for compensation.

"I gave these people a personal pledge that I would do all I can to further their claims, and I will continue to press, along with Liberal Democrat MPs, for a swift resolution to the matter.

"Thirty thousand policy holders have already died since the collapse of Equitable Life and still there is no settlement. The minister refused to say when the government would make a statement, which means that even more policy holders will probably die without receiving a penny for their pension investments.

"The ombudsman's report places the blame squarely at the foot of the government, which failed to regulate to protect Equitable Life savers.

"It is now incumbent on the government to make amends.

"If it can bail out banks who've been gambling with other peoples' money, why can't it help these prudent investors it has let down?

"It really is the case that justice delayed is justice denied," said Richard.