Waspi women demand Labour commits to ‘long overdue’ compensation in manifesto
Campaigners demanding justice for the Waspi women hit by changes to the state pension age have urged Sir Keir Starmer to commit to compensation in Labour’s general election manifesto.
A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) into any failures at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) over communication of the policy – which could recommend a compensation scheme – is expected within weeks.
However, the Conservative government has so far not committed to any payments. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said last year only that his government would “respond appropriately” to the ombudsman’s recommendations.
Angela Madden, chair of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign, said the group fears the prime minister and his Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will delay any decision about money until after the election.
“We fear the current Government will kick any decision on compensation into the long grass,” Ms Madden told i.
Pensions minister Paul Maynard told MPs on Tuesday that the Government could not promise compensation until the ombudsman finishes its probe.
“Until we know the contents of that report, I – as a government minister with a duty to manage public money properly – cannot make any such commitment,” said the senior Tory.
The minister also said he recognised the “huge strength of feeling among 50s-born women about the increase to their state pension age and the way in which it was communicated”.
Waspi campaigners – who want at least £10,000 for each of the 3.6 million women affected – are urging Sir Keir to pick up the mantle instead, even though compensation could amount to tens of billions of pounds.
The Labour leader and his shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves have been wary of making any new spending commitments in a bid to boost their reputation for fiscal discipline.
“We want Labour to make a commitment in the manifesto,” said Ms Madden. “This is a clear injustice and compensation is long overdue. The message to Keir Starmer is: ‘Do your job’.
“It can be a big voter winner – Labour must know how strongly people feel about it,” said the 70-year-old, who is fighting for herself and the 3.6 million women born in the 50s hit by a sudden change to the state pension age made in the 90s.
Ms Madden added: “It doesn’t need to bankrupt the country. We would be quite happy with a phased approach to compensation payments over the next Parliament. But it is urgent to get on with it. There are people dying before they can be fairly compensated.”
Waspi campaigners say women born during in the 50s were not properly informed that their state pension would increase from 60 to 65 to equalise with men. It was later increased to 66 for both sexes.
They claim the women had insufficient time to plan for years without their pension, causing some to quit their jobs, only to find they did not have enough for their retirement.
Ahead of the last general election, the Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn promised £58bn for affected women – with average payments of £15,000, and maximum payments of £31,000 for those worst affected.
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged Sir Keir to come up with a similar policy this year before voters go to the polls.
Mr McDonnell told i: “The pressing urgency of this issue, given the ages of the women involved, warrants a commitment in Labour’s manifesto to bring forward a compensation scheme promptly after the election.”
Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey also said the party had been “absolutely right” to pledge billions last time. The left-winger added: “Fair and fast compensation is something we must continue fighting for until these women receive the justice they deserve.”
Labour’s Shadow Pensions Minister Gill Furniss – born in the 50s – hinted that she supported compensation after she was pushed by SNP MPs on the issue during a parliamentary debate on Tuesday.
Asked by the SNP’s Patricia Gibson whether she thought affected women should get compensation, Ms Furniss said, “As a Waspi woman, you probably would be able to guess [my view], wouldn’t you? That’s all I’m going to say at the moment.”
There are growing fears the PHSO could stop short of recommending compensation, after a leaked memo suggested it would propose only that Parliament finds a way to help the Wapsi women.
Christine Jardine MP, the Liberal Democrats’ equalities spokesperson called on both parties to step up and promise compensation, regardless of the upcoming report.
“The Conservatives and Labour need to commit to making things right for women across the whole UK who have been treated unfairly.”
A DWP spokesperson said the Government was still waiting for ombudsman’s report for deciding upon any action. “Both the High Court and Court of Appeal have supported the actions of the DWP, under successive governments dating back to 1995, and the Supreme Court refused the claimants permission to appeal,” they said.
Labour has been approached for comment.
