Almond Valley MSP Angela Constance has condemned the UK Government for breaking its promise to compensate WASPI women, as figures from SPICe reveal that 10,070 women in West Lothian may have lost out on pension payments.
The women, born in the 1950s, were affected by changes to the state pension age and were not properly informed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Across Scotland, it is estimated that 355,910 women have been impacted, leaving many struggling financially.
Following their electoral victory in July last year, the UK Labour government has reversed its pledge to compensate these women.
Angela Constance MSP said: “The Labour government’s betrayal of the WASPI women is utterly shameful. As many as 10,070 women across West Lothian have lost out because of a UK government mistake, and many have campaigned tirelessly for decades to have this injustice recognised.
“For the Labour Party, after just months in power, to break its promise to compensate these women is not only wrong but an enormous breach of trust.
“The Scottish Government will continue to stand alongside the WASPI women in their fight for the compensation they deserve. I urge the Labour government to reconsider and do the right thing.”
The UK Government announced in December that it would ignore the recommendation from the UK Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) to deliver compensation for WASPI Women.
Labour’s Work & Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall told the UK Parliament: “The government does not believe paying a flat rate to all women at a cost of up to £10.5 billion would be fair or proportionate to taxpayers.”
Nine months earlier, the PHSO had recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 to those affected.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves added: “I understand that women affected by the changes to the state pension age feel disappointed by this decision, but we looked in full at the ombudsman recommendations and they said that around 90 per cent of women did know that these changes were coming.”
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