MPs backing the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) have launched a new effort to deliver compensation for the 1950s-born women, after Labour saying it would not provide payouts. The Government told Parliament last week that there would be no compensation scheme, even though the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman had previously suggested payouts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950.
The state pension age hike from 60 to 65, then to 66, impacted these women, with the Ombudsman finding ‘maladministration’ in the DWP’s communication efforts. Many women were left unaware of the change and their retirement plans were thrown in disarray. Support for the campaign has come from various political parties, including the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Plaid Cymru.
All five Plaid Cymru MPs have now endorsed an early day motion calling on the Government to “reverse” its stance and finally provide compensation. The text of the motion, which may be brought before Parliament for a debate, expresses the MPs’ disappointment over the broken 2019 promise by Labour to establish a recompense system for the women.
The MPs are also urging the Government “to reverse this decision, and finally deliver justice for the 3.6 million affected 1950s-born women”. The full early day motion is available to read here.
Many individual MPs have come in support of compensation, including Labour MPs. Among them are work and pensions minister, Sir Stephen Timms, and Debbie Abrahams, who leads the Work and Pensions Committee. A separate early day motion was established shortly after the new Labour Government took office, demanding a “proper plan” to compensate affected women.
This motion received cross-party backing, with signatures from eight Labour MPs, as well as members from the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, and the Democratic Unionist Party. One expert who has criticised the Government for opting not to compensate the women is accountant and author David Kindness, from Best Money.
He said: “The Government’s choice not to compensate WASPI women is a slap in the face to those who built their retirement plans around promises that were broken without warning. Many of these women have faced years of financial stress and emotional turmoil because of changes to the pension age that weren’t communicated properly.”
Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, addressed Parliament regarding the decision, claiming that most women were aware of the alterations to their state pension age. Despite this blow, WASPI campaigners remain hopeful, with the Liberal Democrats potentially able to prompt a parliamentary vote on the matter. They hold 72 seats in the Commons.
WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden said: “An overwhelming majority of MPs back WASPI’s calls for fair compensation and all options remain on the table. Parliament must now seek an alternative mechanism to force this issue on to the order paper so justice can be done.”