PM Must Make Urgent U-Turn on Compensation Betrayal
The SNP has called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to urgently reverse his governmentās decision not to provide compensation for Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI).
The renewed call comes after the Scottish Parliament united in calling for the UK Government to deliver justice and compensation for the women affected by changes in state pension age.
Scottish Labour MSPs joined members from all other parties in backing SNP Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somervilleās call for the UK Government to deliver compensation as recommended by the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
The UK Labour Government announced the week before Christmas that it would not follow the recommendations of the PHSO. The Ombudsman had concluded that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) should apologise and pay compensation to the estimated 335,910 women in Scotland and 3.8 million women across the UK impacted by changes to the state pension age.
The Scottish Parliament has just unanimously called on the UK government to compensate WASPI women, which the UK Labour government refused to do.
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) January 21, 2025
The SNP has stood with the WASPI women for years, and we will stand with them until justice is delivered. pic.twitter.com/tPDog34W7C
While Labour have been shamed by this betrayal of WASPI women, yesterday’s unanimous call from the Scottish Parliament was an important moment.
GRAEME
These wronged women have fought tirelessly for justice for a decade, and justice – in the form of compensation – is what the PHSO report recognised that they deserved.
The Labour Party claimed to back their campaign for years only to outright refuse the report’s recommendation.
Thanks to the SNP’s leadership, Scotland has now spoken with one voice on this matter – the Prime Minister must urgently reverse his government’s scandalous decision.