This weekend marks 100 days of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government being in power and members of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) Campaign have reacted furiously to the lack of action from ministers on delivering justice for millions of women born in the 1950s affected by changes to their retirement age.
In March, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) final report found the DWP had been guilty of ‘maladministration’ by failing to let women born in the 1950s know their State Pension age was rising from 60 to 65, then 66. The Ombudsman stated that “Parliament must urgently identify a mechanism for providing that appropriate remedy” and recommended compensation equivalent to Level four on its banding scale, which is worth between £1,000 and £2,950.
However, despite repeated calls from MPs to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds on October 7 during DWP parliamentary questions to progress compensation plans, more delays were announced due to the ‘complexity’ of the final report’s findings.
On four occasions, the DWP was asked when the Government would bring forward proposals to compensate WASPI women, offering the same response – that more ‘time is needed’ to review the findings and recommendations made in the report.
Based on current Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, an estimated 3.5 million 1950s-born women have been affected by increases to the official age of retirement.
WASPI says pressure is now building on ministers to bring forward proposals for compensation, ahead of the Autumn Budget which will take place on Wednesday, October 30. They also highlighted how the PHSO’s final report is shorter than Labour’s election manifesto.
Angela Madden, Chair of the WASPI Campaign, said: “This Government campaigned on the grounds of being the party of social justice and of getting things done, yet as Labour marks 100 days in power, their lack of progress means ministers risk continuing the can-kicking of the Conservatives.
“Since the general election, we have welcomed support from hundreds of Labour MPs and are pleased to see so many new MPs backing our calls for compensation. Like us, these MPs know that carrying out the recommendations of both the Parliamentary Ombudsman and the Work and Pensions Select Committee without delay is the only remedy for this historic injustice.”
Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Work and Pensions, Steve Darling MP, said: “The Liberal Democrats have long supported fair and fast compensation for WASPI women, and we will continue to advocate for the millions of women across the country awaiting justice.
“Ministers must quickly step up for 1950s-born women and implement the findings of the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s report without delay.”
Hundreds of women have reacted furiously on social media to the lack of progress on the issue.
One woman commented on Facebook: “So they criticised the last government for not compensating the women swiftly enough, one assumes they had already read the report thoroughly at that stage. Yet more delaying tactics-disgraceful behaviour.”
Another said: “It’s already been ‘looked at’ by the Ombudsman. Now Labour you need to stop looking and start doing. Too much prevarication!”
While a third woman added: “They are, as the Conservatives did, kicking it into the long grass but we will be there on the 30th making our feelings known.”
WASPI estimates that more than 11,000 women affected by changes to their State Pension age have died since Labour’s landslide election win on July 4. Since then, more than 300 MPs have pledged their support for the campaign, many of them newly elected.
WASPI Protest on Budget Day
WASPI campaigners are expected to gather in Parliament Square on October 30 for the Chancellor’s Budget, urging ministers to bring forward proposals for fair and fast compensation.
The ‘WASPI can’t wait – compensate’ demo will be held between 12 and 3pm.