WASPI campaigners have sent a fresh message to the Labour Government this week urging MPs to deliver their long-awaited compensation. More than 1,000 women backing the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) cause held a protest outside Parliament on Budget day this week to once again call for payouts.
The WASPI generation of women were affected when the state pension age was increased from 60 to 65. They were not properly notified of the change by the DWP, throwing into disarray their retirement plans with many forced to continue work and struggling to pay the bills.
WASPI campaign chair, Angela Madden, spelled out their message to the new Labour administration and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. She said: “We are still here.
“We know you are a new Government, and you haven’t given us anything this time, but hopefully you will very soon.
“We wanted to convey the strength of feeling there still is around the country. While they were in Parliament not talking about compensating WASPI women, they could hear us outside complaining about this.”
Several MPs attended the demo including Liberal Democrat party leader, Ed Davey, and Labour’s John McDonnell.
A landmark report came out in March from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, saying the women should get payouts, recommending compensation ranging from £1,000 and £2,950.
Many individual MPs have previously backed the cause, with some previously calling for payments of £10,000 or more.
The Liberal Democrats have also consistently supported the campaign with the SNP also backing calls for compensation.
When the new Government came in, an early day motion was set up calling for a “proper plan” to be brought forward for payouts.
This has been signed by 93 MPs including seven Labour MPs. Another potential voice of support for the campaign in Parliament is the new Work and Pensions Committee.
This is chaired by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, who sat on the committee during the previous Conservative Government, when the group came out in support of payments.
Another supporter among the top ranks of the Labour Government is Sir Stephen Timms, who now serves as a pensions minister.
He said previously: “The debate over the impact of the DWP’s failure to communicate increases in the women’s state pension age has dragged on for too long and it is time the Government took action to resolve the issue.
“There is no perfect solution, but there would seem to be broad support for a rules-based system of compensation with a degree of flexibility for cases where women have experienced direct financial loss.”
