WASPI launches fresh push for compensation as Labour warned of ‘last chance saloon’ | Politics | News
Campaigners aim to send one million letters to MPs seeking compensation for women affected by the increase in the state’s retirement age. The group Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) is urging supporters to write to their local MPs and back their call for payments.
The new move in the long-running campaign comes as the Government reconsiders its decision to deny compensation to women born in the 1950s and will report back by the end of next month. The group claims they have been negatively affected by the way state pension increases have been communicated.
WASPI president Angela Madden said: “WASPI women are ready to fight harder than ever over the next few weeks to seek the justice we deserve. But we’re not just asking for help from the women of the 1950s.
“We need everyone in the country who supports us, including Herculean efforts, to make this an issue no MP can ignore.
“This is truly a time of crisis. We need every MP to make it clear that ministers are in the last chance room.”
“If they ignore the advice of the parliamentary ombudsman again, they risk a humiliating tsunami of national anger and further legal action.”
A 2024 report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 be paid to those affected.
The government accepted the ombudsman’s findings that the group was not adequately informed about changes to the state pension age and apologized, but rejected recommendations for payments that could cost taxpayers up to £10.5bn.
The bid to send one million letters has also been supported by other campaign groups for pensioners.
Silver Voices director Dennis Reed said: “This is yet another U-turn the Government must make.
“Raising two fingers at one’s own Parliamentary Ombudsman for recommending compensation for women in the 1950s reveals an arrogant disdain for democracy and legal protest.
“WASPI is in charge of the fight for justice for these three million elderly women and we will be calling on our members to write to their MPs to support this vital campaign.”
Jan Shortt, general secretary of the National Pensioners’ Convention, added: “The government’s recent promise to review the WASPI compensation decision is a welcome step, but justice for women born in the 1950s requires much more.
“These women planned their lives around the suddenly and unfairly changed state pension age, leaving many in serious financial difficulties and emotional distress.
“The government must now show real commitment by providing meaningful compensation that is long overdue. The government must also demonstrate its confidence in its Ombudsman as the system to protect our rights. We will encourage our NPC members to write to their MPs in support of WASPI.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “Last month we decided to reconsider and will do so within three months.
“This does not necessarily mean that the Government will decide that it should provide financial compensation.”
