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Attacked by campaigners demanding justice for Waspian women Changes to the state pension age have prompted calls for Sir Keir Starmer to promise compensation in Labour’s general election manifesto.
A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) into the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) failures to communicate policy, which could potentially recommend a compensation scheme, is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
But the Conservative government has so far not committed to any payments. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said last year only that the government would “respond appropriately” to the ombudsman’s recommendations.
Angela Madden, campaign chair of Women Against Inequalities in State Pensions (Waspi), said her group was concerned that the Prime Minister and Jeremy Hunt would postpone any decisions on money until after the election. He said that
“I’m concerned that the current government will backtrack on any decisions regarding compensation,” Madden said. I.
Pensions Minister Paul Maynard told MPs on Tuesday that the government could not promise compensation until the ombudsman concluded its investigation.
“Until I know the contents of that report, as a government minister with a duty to properly manage public funds, I cannot make such a commitment,” the Conservative Party official said.
The minister also said he recognized the “strength of sentiment among women born in their 50s about raising the national pension age and how that should be communicated.”
Waspi campaigners, demanding at least £10,000 for each of the 3.6 million women affected, appeal to Lord Keir to take up the task on their behalf, despite compensation potentially running into tens of billions of pounds. ing.
Labor’s leader and his shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, have been wary of pledging new spending to boost their reputation for fiscal discipline.
“We want Labor to commit to a manifesto,” Mr Madden said. “This is a clear injustice and compensation is long overdue. The message to Keir Starmer is ‘do your job’.
“This bill could be a huge win for voters. Labor needs to know how strongly people feel about this issue,” said the party, which has been hit by both itself and the sudden change in the national system. said the 70-year-old woman who is fighting for the 3.6 million women born in the 1950s. Pension age established in the 1990s.
Madden added: “There is no need to bankrupt the country. We are very happy that there will be a phased approach to compensation payments in the next parliament. But there is an urgent need to address it. Just compensation. Some people die before they receive it.”
Waspi activists claim that women born in the 1950s were not properly informed that their state pension would be raised from 60 to 65 to be equal to men. The number subsequently increased to 66 for both men and women.
Women claim that without a pension, they don’t have enough time to plan for years, and as a result, some quit their jobs only to find they don’t have enough money for retirement.
Ahead of the last general election, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labor Party pledged £58 billion for affected women, with an average payout of £15,000 and up to £3 for the most affected women. He promised to pay £10,000.
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged Sir Keir to introduce similar policies before voters go to the polls this year.
Mr McDonnell said: I“Given the age of the women involved, the urgency of this issue justifies Labor’s manifesto promise to bring forward the compensation scheme as soon as possible after the election.”
Labor MP Rebecca Long-Bailey said her party was “absolutely right” to pledge $billion in funding last time. The leftist added: “Fair and prompt compensation is something we must continue to fight for until these women receive the justice they deserve.”
Labour’s shadow pensions minister Gil Furniss (born in the 50s) has indicated he supports compensation after being heavily pressed by SNP MPs on the issue during Tuesday’s parliamentary debate.
Asked by the SNP’s Patricia Gibson whether she thought affected women should receive compensation, Ms Furniss replied: [my view], isn’t it? That’s all I have to say at this point. ”
A leaked memo suggests that PHSO will only recommend that Congress find a way to help the Wapsi women, raising concerns that PHSO will fall short of recommending compensation.
Liberal Democrat equality spokeswoman Christine Jardine MP called on both parties to step up and commit to reparations, regardless of future reports.
“The Conservative Party and Labor Party need to commit to making things right for women across the UK who have been treated unfairly.”
A DWP spokesperson said the government was still awaiting the ombudsman’s report to decide on any action. “While both the High Court and the Court of Appeal have upheld DWP’s actions under successive governments since 1995, the Supreme Court has refused the plaintiffs leave to appeal,” they said.
Labor has been contacted for comment.