Keir Starmer Under Fire: No Compensation for Waspi Women Despite Campaign Promises

In a recent statement, Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the government’s decision not to provide compensation to women affected by changes to the state pension age, emphasizing that the taxpayer “simply can’t afford the tens of billions of pounds” in payouts. Starmer pointed out that 90% of those impacted were aware of the changes, which many lawmakers dispute.

The Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign asserts that 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were inadequately informed about the increase in the state pension age from 60 to 65, which was phased in between 2010 and 2020. This decision to speed up the timetable for raising the age was made by the coalition government in 2010, leaving many women to restructure their financial plans unexpectedly.

Waspi is advocating for compensation, suggesting amounts of £10,000 per woman, which would total around £36 billion. Although a recent independent government review indicated that compensation could be between £1,000 and £2,950 per affected individual, the government has declined to implement these recommendations, despite admitting that they delayed notifying the women by 28 months and offering an apology. Rebecca Hilsenrath, head of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, criticized this refusal, stating that acknowledging a mistake should come with a responsibility to rectify it.

Some members of the Labour Party had previously supported the Waspi campaign, with Starmer himself signing a pledge in 2022 for “fair and fast compensation.” Notable Labour figures, including Angela Rayner, reiterated the party’s commitment to addressing the injustice felt by Waspi women. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Diane Abbott, a veteran Labour MP, highlighted the sustained efforts of Waspi women in seeking justice, emphasizing their feelings of betrayal following the government’s announcement.

Starmer faced significant scrutiny, with calls for a parliamentary vote on compensation from various MPs, including Ian Byrne, an independent MP who condemned the government’s stance. The media has pointed out contradictions in Labour’s previous support for the Waspi cause versus their current position and criticized the government’s decision as a betrayal.

The SNP has also called for a parliamentary vote, with their Westminster leader criticizing Labour for abandoning its support for the Waspi women. Andrew Griffith, a Conservative shadow minister, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the decision represents a betrayal to those who were promised remedies by past administrations.

Groups like Waspi refute claims that most women were aware of the changes prior to their implementation. Angela Madden, a Waspi chairperson, argued that while women might have had general awareness, they did not personally know how the changes would impact them. This sentiment was reinforced by testimonies from affected women who claimed they had no notification of the pension age changes until it was too late.

The broader consequences of this decision may set a concerning precedent as the UK government grapples with maintaining other services while managing public expectations and support for those affected by its policies. With an impending general election, the situation continues to escalate, leaving many wondering how politicians will respond to the pressing issues raised by the Waspi campaign.