The UK Government’s “shameful shunning” of WASPI women was criticised by a Perthshire campaigner this week as a Commons vote backed a bill for compensation.
The SNP bill passed on Tuesday by 105 votes to zero – as Labour and Conservative MPs abstained – and will now go to a second reading in March.
It would require the Labour Government to compensate 1950s-born women who were not adequately informed the state pension age was being raised from 60 to 65, in line with recommendations from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
Among 10 Labour rebels backing the bill was former Perth City councillor Brian Leishman, now MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, who has long campaigned for compensation for WASPI women.
Former Perthshire postmistress and WASPI campaigner Catherine Scott (68), of Methven, had been due to retire at 60 in 2016.
She did not get a letter when the retirement age went up to 65, but did get one when it went from 65 to 66.
She said this week: “It is good to see this injustice being brought to the fore in parliament.
“However, it was very disappointing to see that there were so very few Labour MPs in the chamber.
“I think they need to realise that WASPI women are their constituents. We are not going away.”
Perth and Kinross-shire SNP MP Pete Wishart, pictured above, said this week: “I have stood with the WASPI women as they have campaigned tirelessly for nearly a decade, with the simple goal of getting the justice and compensation they so deserve.
“I was therefore proud to vote to compensate WASPI women alongside my SNP colleagues, and I am delighted the bill passed, meaning it will now progress to the next stage.
“However, it is completely shameful that just 10 Labour MPs, and just one from Scottish Labour, had the backbone to vote with us.
“Labour in opposition backed WASPI women to the hilt, but now, in government with the power to do something about it, they turn their backs.”
“That’s despite a years-long ombudsman report concluding that 1950s women were indeed victim to DWP maladministration, and should receive compensation.
“The SNP will continue to do everything in our power to hold the UK Government to account on this unforgivable betrayal.”
Under the 1995 Pensions Act the state pension age for women was to increase from 60 to 65 in stages between 2010 to 2020.
In 2011 the coalition government brought it forward to 2018.
Two years later the state pension age for men and women was raised to 66.
And under the Pensions Act 2014 the state pension age for men and women subsequently increased to 67.