Pension Justice for British Coal Workers

621 people in the Selby and Kippax constituency will receive an uplift in

their pensions thanks to a successful campaign led by local MP, Keir Mather.

Yesterday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in the 2025 Budget that the

government will pay out the surplus in the pension pot of former British Coal staff. Last

year’s budget saw an uplift in pensions for a large proportion of mineworkers. This year,

the Government goes further to end pension injustice for members of the British Coal

Staff Superannuation Scheme, many of whom worked underground to power our nation.

In the past 14 months, Keir Mather MP has pressured government departments to

address the issue of inequitable treatment between different coal related pension

schemes. In Spring this year, Mr Mather hosted the scheme's Trustees at his office in

Selby. Most recently, he wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to urge him to look

at the proposals made by the Trustees ahead of the Budget.

Speaking about his campaign, Keir said “I am so pleased to see another injustice for our

coalfield communities put right by this Labour government.”

“In Selby and Kippax we are proud of our mining past and I know that local people

share my view that hard earned pensions of those who worked in the industry belong to

those workers.”

He added “I am grateful to everyone who has contacted me on this important issue, I

know just how much this matters to members. Each conversation I have had has

informed my work on this campaign and I am very pleased to see success on this,

which will make a real impact for hundreds of local families.”