Blaenau Gwent second in UK as pension age petition passes 100,000

A petition calling for the State Pension age to be reduced to 65 has passed 100,000 signatures, the threshold at which Parliament considers it for a debate. The official record showed 100,237 signatures at 4.35am on Sunday 25 October, including 7,550 recorded in Wales.

Valleys seats near the top of the UK

Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney had 355 signatures, the second-highest count of the UK's 650 constituencies, behind only West Dunbartonshire with 366. Caerphilly was joint sixth with 300 and Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare tenth with 297, so three of the top 10 seats are in Wales. Gower (284) and Rhondda and Ogmore (277) followed in Wales. Cardiff South and Penarth had the lowest Welsh count, 126. These are raw counts from Parliament's constituency breakdown, not a share of each electorate.

No debate date yet

Parliament's record says the debate threshold was reached at 9.15pm on Saturday. It does not list a scheduled debate date. Passing the threshold prompts consideration; it does not guarantee that a debate will take place or change the law. The petition is due to close on 16 March 2027.

Government has rejected the proposed cut

The government responded to the petition on 13 October, saying it has no plans to lower the State Pension age to 65. The existing increase from 66 to 67 began in April 2026 and is due to finish in March 2028. The department's response said a review is considering the pension age for future decades. The threshold does not alter anyone's pension entitlement.