WASPI campaign warns Keir Starmer 'you have no right' to deny compensation

WASPI campaigners have issued a simple warning to Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying he has no right to deny them compensation payouts.

The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women have fought for years for compensation for the 1950s-born generation of women who were affected when their state pension age increased to 65 and then to 66.

They argue they were not properly informed of the change with many unaware they would have to wait years longer to claim their state pension, ruining their retirement plans.

Labour said at the end of last year that there would be no compensation payouts, despite the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman previously stating there was 'maladminstation' in how the DWP told the women of the change, recommending payouts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950.

Despite the setback, the campaigners have pledged to fight on for compensation. WASPI campaign chair, Angela Madden, said the Government "has a choice in this".

She urged: "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 argued that the £10.5billion it would cost to provide compensation is "a fraction" compared to other Government spending.

Ms Madden and other WASPI advocates were in Westminster last week for a meeting of the Work and Pensions Committee, where the campaign and a representative of the Ombudsman addressed the issue.

She said it was heartening to hear the Ombudsman agree with their views, saying: "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."

Work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, told the Commons last month that it would have made little difference to send out letters to the women earlier, to inform them of the change.

But in speaking to the committee last week, deputy ombudsman, Karl Bannister, took a different view. He said: "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.

"The whole point about communicating, and we find this with complainants who come to us, is that you have to expect that people have all sorts of ways that they receive information. Different demographics have different preferences."

Ms Madden said their campaign will continue apace. They have the support of many MPs, with some speaking out at a debate in Parliament in recent weeks, following the Government decision, vowing to keep on the pressure for payouts.

The campaign head said: "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.

"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 consistently called for compensation, and when they previously controlled the Scottish Parliament, a vote in Holyrood approved "compensation in full" for the women.

With the swing in Scotland away from the SNP towards Labour in the General Election last year, Ms Madden said it will be interesting to see if the MPs there will reflect the previously expressed views of Scottish voters or toe the party line.