Labour's decision not to compensate 'Waspi women' who suffered from changes to the state pension age has triggered a furious backlash from MPs and campaigners. The move marks a stark U-turn from previous Labour pledges and raises concerns about the party's commitment to addressing social injustices.
When Liz Kendall declared in the Commons there'll be no compensation for the so-called Waspi women, there were shouts of 'shame!' from MPs.And no wonder. Could this be as big a political blunder as Rachel Reeves axing winter fuel payments for pensioners? Potentially, yes, given the furious backlash already.Starmer's shifting positionYes, compensation was promised by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow chancellor John McDonnell in the run-up to the December 2019 general election.
McDonnell promised a £58bn compensation scheme to end a 'historic injustice' and said a 'debt of honour' was owed.And yes, Sir Keir Starmer fought this year's election as a changed Labour Party. And no, there was no repeat of the Corbyn-McDonnell pledge in this year's manifesto.But as recently as 2022, the prime minister told a caller in a radio phone-in: 'This is a real injustice. We need to do something about it.''An axe to our own coalition'In 2019, when she was in Corbyn's shadow cabinet, Angela Rayner said the Tory government 'stole this money' from women born in the 1950s and Labour would 'right that injustice'.But not only that, Liz Kendall herself attended a Waspi campaign event in 2019 and said: 'This injustice can't go on. I have been a longstanding supporter of the Waspi campaign…'No surprise then, that many of Labour's newly-elected MPs now feel betrayed. 'It feels a bit like we assembled this enormous coalition at the election, and now we're just intent on taking an axe to it piece by piece,' one new Labour MP told Sky News.Should sub-postmasters be worried?If it was an injustice in 2019 and 2022, surely it's still an injustice? Should other groups battling against injustice – like sub-postmasters and infected blood victims - be worried now
Waspi Women Labour Party Keir Starmer Pensioners Social Injustice
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Labour Government Denies Compensation to Waspi WomenThe Labour government has faced criticism for refusing to provide compensation to Waspi women, those born in the 1950s who argue they were inadequately informed about the rise in the state pension age. Despite a parliamentary ombudsman's recommendation for payouts and the Waspi campaign's calls for at least £10,000 each, Labour Work and Pension Secretary Liz Kendall stated that a flat-rate payment would be unfair to taxpayers.
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Waspi Women Denied Compensation by Labour GovernmentThe Labour government has refused to compensate Waspi women affected by changes to their retirement age, citing affordability concerns. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall apologized for a delay in informing affected women but defended the decision, stating that a state-funded payout would be unfair to taxpayers.
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Labour Government Rejects Waspi Women CompensationThe Labour Government has faced backlash for deciding against providing compensation to Waspi women, those born in the 1950s who campaign that they were not adequately informed about the rise in state pension age.
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Labour MSP Criticizes Government's Decision Against WASPI CompensationDumbarton's Labour MSP, Jackie Baillie, expresses her disappointment over the UK Government's refusal to provide compensation to WASPI women. She argues that a blanket approach denying compensation to all affected women is unjust and calls for a compromise to aid those who have suffered the most.
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Labour Government Faces Backlash for Rejecting WASPI Pensioner CompensationThe Labour government has been criticized for failing to provide compensation to WASPI women, a group of 3.5 million women born in the 1950s who argue they were not adequately informed about the increase in the state pension age. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall stated that a flat-rate payment would be unfair and disproportionate to taxpayers. Critics, including Scottish National Party MSP Keith Brown, condemned the decision as a betrayal of pensioners and a breach of Labour's election promises.
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Waspi women will not get any compensation from DWPLabour decides compensation not a ‘fair and proportionate’ use of taxpayers’ money
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