By Sue Flood When you are fighting injustice and taking on a government agency like HMRC, compassion can be hard to find. For victims of financial abuse, pension scams, and investment fraud, compassion isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a lifeline. And I know this because I’ve lived it. I’m one of them. Over the last several years, I’ve had the privilege — and the heartbreak — of walking alongside hundreds of victims who’ve been financially and emotionally devastated by fraud and scams. Together with two incredible women, Carly Barnes-Short and Margaret Snowdon OBE, I’ve fought to make sure these victims are seen, heard, and treated with fairness and dignity. Our campaign is not just about fixing systems. It’s about giving people hope when everything else is being taken from them. Victims from Every Walk of Life This isn’t just a story about pensions or investment schemes — it’s about people. Nurses, firemen, athletes, single mums, retired professionals. People from every walk of life who’ve fallen prey to sophisticated scams or been left high and dry by broken systems. What they share is trauma, confusion, and often shame — and far too many are suffering in silence. One of the hardest truths is that this could happen to anyone. I know that, because it happened to me. When victims come to us, they're often at breaking point — emotionally, financially, and sometimes even physically. I’ve personally taken calls from people on the brink of suicide because of HMRC. Carly has too. And I can honestly say that those late-night calls, those heartbreaking conversations, are what fuel this campaign more than anything else. Carly Barnes-Short: The Strategic Heartbeat It’s a privilege to work alongside Carly. As co-chair of the Investment Fraud Special Advisory Committee, she is the strategic powerhouse behind so much of what we’ve achieved — and one of the most compassionate people I’ve ever met. She was already campaigning tirelessly for victims in the world of sport when she learned about what was happening in the pensions space. Without hesitation, she stepped up to help us too — and has never looked back. Carly is the reason we’ve secured key meetings in Westminster and was the driving force behind the Investment Fraud APPG inquiry. She drafts legislation, leads events, builds relationships, and keeps the pressure on — all while juggling her legal career and family life. She's brought serious figures into the campaign like Lord Mann and Simon Myerson KC. Our MPs respect her. They listen to her. And most importantly, they act because of her. She leads much of the dialogue with government ministers and policymakers, always with empathy and professionalism, and sees every victim as a person first — not a case, not a number, but a human being in need of support and help. She stays up late and works on this with me every day. When things get overwhelming or we hit another wall, Carly finds another way forward. She never stops. Her work often goes unseen, but I see it — and I am endlessly grateful. Carly gives me the strength to keep going, especially on the hardest days. Margaret Snowdon OBE: The Voice of Integrity Margaret brings a level of experience and wisdom that gives our campaign real weight and credibility. She commands respect in every room she enters — not through volume, but through quiet authority and integrity. Margaret has been a consistent and principled voice for pension victims for many years, calling out institutional failure and championing fair treatment long before it was fashionable to do so. Her calm approach is a vital counterbalance to the raw emotion this work often brings. She reminds us that we can change the law — because she’s made it happen before. Margaret doesn’t need to shout to be heard. Her presence says everything. My Own Journey: From Victim to Campaigner I never set out to lead a campaign with Carly and Margaret. Like many others, I found myself here because I had no choice. As a fraud survivor, I’ve felt the devastation firsthand. And I couldn’t walk away knowing others were going through the same — or worse — with no one to turn to. With the help of my daughters, close friends, and an incredible group of volunteers, we’ve built a grassroots engine that powers media outreach, peer support, and public pressure. We’ve faced online abuse, institutional resistance, and days where the emotional toll is crushing. But we carry on — not for ourselves, but for the people counting on us. Behind the Scenes While much of our campaign plays out in public — in Parliament, the media, or out on the streets — so much of the real work happens behind the scenes. And I want to pay tribute to the people who help me and Carly keep this engine running day in and day out: my daughters, their close friends, and the brilliant Barry Lee Parker of Piston Design. This campaign simply wouldn’t function without them. My daughters and a small circle of trusted friends have worked tirelessly on everything from managing our social media, building content, updating the website, and keeping us organised. They’ve done this around full-time jobs, families, and their own lives — often late into the night. Together, this team has helped us not only build our online presence, but also organise vital moments like the parliamentary summit — which was a major milestone for our movement. They juggle logistics, liaise with media, and make sure that the front-line work Carly, Margaret, and I are doing can actually happen. Grassroots campaigns like ours are built on heart, hard work, and human connection. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. What We've Achieved So Far Together, we have: Launched a parliamentary inquiry into investment fraud and unfair tax treatment Built a cross-party alliance of MPs, legal experts, and financial leaders Supported hundreds of victims with pro bono advice, peer support, and advocacy Organised the “Enough is Enough” march and secured meetings with HMRC and Treasury officials Pushed for reforms that prioritise compassion and affordability over bureaucracy But we’re not done. Despite all our hard work and support, the government isn’t listening — and until they do, we will keep fighting. We won’t stop until the Government, Treasury, and HMRC finally wake up to the reality of what victims are facing. Lives are on the line — and they need to start listening. I will keep fighting until they do. To Our Supporters: Thank You This campaign is nothing without the hundreds of people who’ve stood beside us — from MPs and journalists to volunteers and fellow victims. You’ve shown that compassion is contagious, and that together, we are stronger. Final Thoughts: Why We Keep Going People often ask how we do it. The truth is: we don’t really have a choice. Not when we know lives are at stake. This fight is about justice, yes — but it’s also really about compassion. Compassion for people we’ve never met, but whose stories have become part of us. To Carly and Margaret: thank you. For all your hard work without charge, for giving us hope, and most of all your compassion. You’re helping save lives. And to every victim out there: You are not alone. We see you. We hear you. And we won’t stop fighting for you. We are all in this together, and we have some great people behind us who really care. Compassion is not a weakness — it’s the greatest strength of all, and it means everything to victims. We just need HMRC and the Government to start showing it to our victims now too.