WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaigners are unwavering in their demand for compensation, despite the Labour government's refusal to provide payouts. The group, representing women born in the 1950s affected by the increase in state pension age, argues they were inadequately informed about the changes, causing financial hardship and disrupting retirement plans.
WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality ) campaigners have issued a stark warning to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stating he has 'no right' to deny them compensation. The group, representing women born in the 1950s who were impacted by the increase in state pension age from 65 to 66, have been fighting for years for recompense.
They argue that they were inadequately informed about the changes, leaving many unprepared for a longer wait to claim their state pensions and disrupting their retirement plans. Despite the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman previously acknowledging 'maladministration' in the DWP's communication of the change and recommending payouts between £1,000 and £2,950, Labour announced last year that there would be no compensation. Undeterred by this setback, the campaigners vow to continue their fight. WASPI campaign chair, Angela Madden, emphasized that the Government 'has a choice in this'. She insisted: 'It shouldn't cause this much pain. They think we're old women and we have no power. We have no power - all the power is with Keir Starmer. But just because he's got the power, it doesn't give him the right. And that's what we'll have to continue campaigning on. It's always been a Government choice.' She also pointed out that the estimated £10.5 billion required for compensation is 'a fraction' of other Government expenditures. Last week, Ms Madden and other advocates from the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign were present at a meeting of the Work and Pensions Committee in Westminster. A representative of the Ombudsman was also there. Ms Madden found it encouraging that the Ombudsman agreed with their stance in some regards, stating: 'They understands the issues, they want to work with the DWP to resolve this and it isn't helpful for them to be ignored in some instances.' Last month, Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, told the Commons that sending letters to the affected women earlier would have made little difference. Yet deputy ombudsman Karl Bannister took a different view, when speaking to the committee last week. He argued: 'The Government at the time considered the right thing to do was to send letters to people to increase awareness. 'It didn't do it, that's the maladministration. It's quite difficult to point back and say, we don't think letters would have worked.' He added that effective communication requires understanding that different demographics prefer different methods of receiving information. Ms Madden confirmed that their campaign will continue, buoyed by the support of numerous MPs who have spoken out in Parliament following the Government's decision, promising to maintain pressure for payouts. The campaign leader declared: 'We will continue campaigning. We are redoubling our efforts with MPs. The Scottish Parliament voted unanimously to put pressure on the Government of the UK to do what they should and repay WASPI women. She added: 'Maybe things like that will happen in the Welsh and Northern Ireland devolved assemblies as well. The view from the devolved administrations is very different from the view in England.' The SNP has been a vocal advocate for compensation, and during the previous Parliament when they controlled the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood passed a motion supporting 'compensation in full' for the affected women. With the shift after the General Election with Labour now holding most of the seats, Ms Madden said it will be curious to see if the new cohort of Scottish MPs will continue to represent the stance of Scottish voters or align with their party's position instead
WASPI State Pension Inequality Compensation Labour Government Parliamentary Ombudsman
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