WASPI women row reaction as Keir Starmer accused of 'playing politics'

All the moments top Labour ministers backed WASPI campaign

WASPI campaigners were shocked and horrified at Labour's announcement it would not honour their compensation demands after years of promising to support them.

Senior Labour figures, including the Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Deputy PM Angela Rayner and Chancellor Rachel Reeveshave all backed the WASPI campaign in recent years. The WASPI campaign has collected around 100 photos of Labour MPs with campaigners - many of them holding placards calling for compensation. And in 2019 Labour made an official announcement that it would give WASPI women compensation if it was elected to government.

We've taken a look at all the top Labour ministers who have supported the WASPI campaign. Read the full story here.

The PM does not accept that he 'misled' WASPI campaigners

The Prime Minister does not accept that he "misled" WASPI campaigners by backing their calls for compensation, Downing Street has said.

Asked whether Keir Starmer would accept that characterisation, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "No, but as I say I can't speak to comments made pre-election.

"But the point that I'd make is that in Government the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for DWP have been able to study the Ombudsman's report and it is very clear that this cohort faced no direct financial loss as a result of delays in DWP sending out those letters, that by 2006 90% of the cohort were aware that the state pension age was changing.

"He and the secretary of state yesterday were very clear that this is a difficult decision, it is not one that has been taken lightly, but it's based on the evidence in the Ombudsman's report."

No10 rejects calls for vote on WASPI decision

The Government has "no plans" for a vote on whether to compensate women affected by changes to the state pension age, Downing Street has said.

Asked whether there would be a vote, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "There are no plans for a vote. The Secretary of State set out the statement in the House yesterday and gave MPs an opportunity to have their say on this issue."

PM faces call to hold vote on WASPI decision

Keir Starmer is facing pressure to give MPs a vote on his Government's decision to rule out compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age.

During PMQs, Independent MP Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby) told the chamber the Waspi women had experienced an "injustice done to them at the hands of the state".

He asked: "Will the Prime Minister give members the opportunity to vote on whether they believe Waspi women are owed compensation?"

The Prime Minister replied: "I just set out the factual background and the percentage that knew about the change, and the simple fact of the matter is, in the current economic circumstances, the taxpayer can't bear the burden of tens of billions of pounds in compensation."

Keir Starmer branded 'one-trick phoney PM'

Keir Starmer is a "one-trick phoney Prime Minister", according to the SNP's Dave Doogan.

The MP for Angus and Perthshire Glens told the Commons: "Before the election, this Prime Minister said he would lower energy bills by £300. Since he took office, they've gone up by £149.

"He said he would protect the winter fuel payment but now he's in power he's stripped it off our pensioners.

"And he said he lined up for many photos with Waspi women saying he'd have their backs and he's just betrayed them in the most scandalous way possible. This is now the defining characteristic of this one-trick phoney Prime Minister, who says one thing and does another."

Mr Starmer hit back by referencing the SNP's dire election performance. "They used to ask those questions from this sort of area with very many MPs not so long ago," he said. "That all changed in July and he's now carping from right up there. We can hardly hear him."

Keir Starmer faced fury from multiple MPs on WASPI in tense PMQs

Keir Starmer faced fury in the Commons during PMQs over his decision not to give compensation to WASPI women. Multiple MPs raised the issue - with a particularly poignant intervention from veteran MP Diane Abbott.

Read the full story on and watch the video of the powerful moment Ms Abbott confronted Keir Starmer about the government's WASPI "betrayal" here.

Keir Starmer delivers savage jibe about Kemi Badenoch's loathing for sandwiches

Keir Starmer delivered a savage jibe about Kemi Badenoch's loathing for sandwiches as he lashed out at Tory flip-flopping over the triple lock.

He said Ms Badenoch and Chancellor Mel Stride should discuss their position "over a sandwich or a steak". It follows the Tory leader's bizarre admission that she doesn't think sandwiches are "real food" - and sometimes has a steak brought to her as she works.

Read the full story here.

Keir Starmer reiterates support for Ukraine

Elsewhere during the session Mr Starmer spoke about his recent trip to Estonia and how he reitereated the need to put Ukraine in the "strongest possible position". He told MPs: "This conflict could be ended straight away if the aggressor - Russia - backed off."

The PM visited Norway and Estonia this week, the latest in a series of overseas trips he has made since entering No 10. Earlier he said his travel had helped him "to make the case for Britain and the investment that's coming into our country".

Commons falls silent as Veteran MP Diane Abbott raises WASPI

Veteran MP Diane Abbott says WASPI women "fought one of the most sustained and passionate campaigns for justice that I can remember".

The Commons is silent as she passionately says: "We did promise them that we would give them justice. I understand the issue about the cost but does the Prime Minister really understand how let down people feel today?"

Mr Starmer gives an unemotional response saying he does understand the concerns but the evidence shows 90% knew about the changes to state pensions.

MP raises WASPI women - is this 'change'?

Plaid Cymru MP Ben Lake calls out Mr Starmer for previously supporting calls for fair and fast compenstion for WASPI women - before U-turning and rejecting the demands yesterday. He asked the PM: "Mr Speaker, is this what the Prime Minister meant when he promised to lead a ‘Government of change’"?

The PM said it was "unacceptable" that changes to pensions ages weren't properly communicated - and "it was right that the government apologised for that". But he said that since 90% of those impacted knew about the changed that were taking place, it was not fair for taxpayers to foot the bill.

Speaking after, Mr Lake said: "I am deeply disappointed by the Government’s decision to reject calls for compensation for 1950s-born women affected by state pension age changes... It is all the more surprising given the support that the Prime Minister and members of his Government expressed while in opposition.

"For them to now turn their backs on these women is a profound betrayal of trust. The Prime Minister’s response will offer little comfort."

Ed Davey raises the issue of support for young carers

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey raises the issue of support for young carers in the Commons. "These amazing young people need real action to help them with the challenges they face," he tells the PM.

Keir Starmer speaks about a choir of youngsters singing carols outside No10. He says that Sir Ed plugged his charity song - Love is Enough - which he jokes could be antisocial behaviour, before adding: "But in the spirit of the season, I simply say, Happy Christmas."

The PM says the government's new children's legislation will provide support.

Labour 'punching British people in face', Badenoch says

Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour of "punching the British people in the face, literally, in the case of one of his MPs".

She was alluding to MP Mike Amesbury, who is currently suspended from the party, after a video in October appeared to show him punching a man. He was charged with assault last month.

Keir Starmer hails record NHS funding in response to hospice attack

Keir Starmer says the Labour government announced record funding for the NHS in the Budget after Kemi Badenoch says the hospice sector will be hit by £30miollion due to his government's decisions.

The Tory leader hits back: "The truth is, this winter, people will be suffering because of his choices... They raised people's hopes but then smash them with broken promises."

Pensioners will 'suffer and may even die' due to winter fuel cuts

Kemi Badenoch says pensioners will "suffer and may even die" due to winter fuel cuts. She says the decision "isn't just callous" but that it may not even make savings.

But Mr Starmer hits back and says Ms Badenoch previously called the payments a "dead weight".

Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour of 'playing politics' with WASPI women

Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour of having "played politics with the WASPI women" for years. She accuses Deputy PM Angela Rayner of breaking her promise to give compensation to the 1950s women.

She also hits out at the winter fuel payments cuts - and asks him how many have applied for pension credit.

Keir Starmer said Labour has made difficult choices and "stabilised the economy" - meaning they can protect the triple lock.

Nigel Farage's cosy meeting with Elon Musk

Nigel Farage's hour-long meeting with billionaire X owner Elon Musk could also be raised at PMQs today.

The pair met at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday alongside former Tory donor and property developer Nick Candy. Mr Farage, on his sixth visit to the US since being elected as the MP for Clacton in Essex, posted a photo of the trio on X in front of a 1989 portrait of the US President-elect.

It comes as rumours swirl around over the possibility of Mr Musk donating a huge sum to Reform UK...

Labour MPs 'in shock' over WASPI women decision

The Labour MP for South Shields, Emma Lewell-Buck, has responded to the government's decision not to pay out compensation for the WASPI women with a statement on X.

She said she was "shocked" and "disappointed", adding: "When I said I stood with WASPI women, I meant it. When I say they deserved proper recompense, I meant it."

Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, also said MPs were "in shock" at the Government's announcement. "First of all to make such an announcement just prior to Christmas, and then for the announcement to be what it is," she added.

Yesterday the independent MP Rebecca Long Bailey, who co-chairs the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on State Pension Inequality for Women, said the Government's apology was "not enough" for WASPI women. She said the APPG had found "huge numbers" of women suffering "significant financial hardship".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves defends WASPI women decision

Rachel Reeves said this morning she understood the Waspi campaigners were "disappointed" - but paying compensation was the not the best use of taxpayers' money.

The Chancellor, who in opposition backed the Waspi campaign, said: "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% of women did know that these changes were coming.

"And as Chancellor, I have to account for every penny of taxpayers' money spent.

"And given that the vast majority of people did know about these changes, I didn't judge that it would be the best use of taxpayers' money to pay an expensive compensation bill for something that most people knew was happening."

Sky News' Kay Burley grills minister over WASPI 'betrayal'

A Labour minister was grilled on live TV this morning over the government's betrayal of WASPI women.

Homelessness minister Rushanara Ali faced a fuming Kay Burley who questioned whether the public could believe a word the government says after it rejected calls to pay compensation to over 3.5million WASPI women.

The Sky News presenter pointed out that Keir Starmer, Deputy PM Angela Rayner, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall had all previously backed the campaign to compensate the women affected by state pension age changes.

'I had to sell half my home due to WASPI scandal - we won't forget Labour's betrayal'

A former teacher who had to sell half her home because of the state pension age scandal has voiced her fury at the Government's WASPI "betrayal".

Julie Hince retired at 58 believing her savings would see her through to 60 - unaware that new rules meant she couldn't claim for a further six years. Today Work and Pensions Minister Liz Kendall announced that 3.5million women like Julie wouldn't receive payouts, despite an independent watchdog saying they should.

Kemi Badenoch's idea to change how you are taxed unravelled - how it could damage you

Kemi Badenoch's suggestion that millionaires should pay the same rate of tax as the poor could cost low earners a £1,200 tax hike, analysis shows.

Labour said the Tory leader's idea for a flat rate of income tax could mean a huge £34billion tax giveaway for top earners, paid for by increasing taxes of less well-off people.

The modelling, which used a 25% flat rate as an example, should working people could end up paying £1,200 more every year. But those earning more than £200,000 a year could see their tax bill slashed by over £5,000.

Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch set to go head-to-head for final time before Christmas recess

Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch are set to go head-to-head amid fury over Labour's decision to reject compensation for the WASPI women.

On Tuesday the government was accused of betraying the 3.5million women born in the 1950s who missed out pension payments. Expect MPs in the Commons to raise the issue with Mr Starmer at the final Prime Minister's Questions before the Commons heads into the Christmas recess.

The Tory leader Ms Badenoch may also quiz the PM on figures released on Tuesday morning showing inflation increasing to its highest level since March. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rose to 2.6% in November, from 2.3% the previous month.