Now Reading: Labour Betray WASPI Women
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Labour Betray WASPI Women
UK Government Ignores Compensation Recommendation
The SNP has slammed Labour for betraying a generation of women, after DWP Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed the Labour Government will ignore the recommendation from the UK Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) to deliver compensation.Â
In a statement to the House, Ms Kendall confirmed that the Labour Government would refuse the recommendation to award between £1,000 and £2,950 to women affected by the change in the state pension age. The UK Government is now facing a fierce backlash to their decision.
Under my leadership, WASPI women will finally receive the justice they deserve. Read more here: https://t.co/wQk7qxW6SB
— Anas Sarwar (@AnasSarwar) October 14, 2017
It comes after the Ombudsman’s report, published in March this year, found that thousands of women may have been affected by DWP’s failure to adequately inform them that the state pension age had changed, adding that the result was that “some women lost opportunities to make informed decisions about their finances”. As a result, the report recommended that compensation be paid to those affected.
Whilst in opposition, Labour promised to deliver justice for the estimated 3.6 million WASPI women affected by the change in state pension age, while in 2017 Anas Sarwar said that: “Under my leadership, WASPI women will finally receive the justice they deserve”. Indeed, virtually every single senior Labour politician from Sir Keir Starmer to Liz Kendall committed to WASPI justice, while Scottish Labour figures including Anas Sarwar and Ian Murray were also unequivocal in their support.
WATCH: Just asked the Chancellor why he offered the 2.5 million WASPI women across the UK (inc 5,000 in Edinburgh South) nothing in his spring statement.
— Ian Murray MP (@IanMurrayMP) March 13, 2019
His cold, compassionless response was extraordinary. @WASPI_Campaign pic.twitter.com/JRT4iW65lN
In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Ms Kendall said the Labour Government felt the recommendations were not a good use of taxpayer money in what the SNP has described as a “devastating betrayal“.
The SNP has now called for a vote on the Labour decision to reject the Ombudsman recommendation of compensation.
No government should have treated women born in the 1950s in the way that they did. I’m really pleased @UKLabour will compensate women affected in Portsmouth and will finally end this historical wrong. Good news for @solent_waspi and good news for 9,000 women in our city pic.twitter.com/5Bgxp5i3yG
— Stephen Morgan MP (@StephenMorganMP) November 24, 2019
The SNP has written to other opposition leaders to seek their support for a vote when Parliament returns in January.
Both Kemi Badenoch of the Tories and Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats have been pressed to use their Opposition Day allocations to force a vote.Â
Women are suffering unacceptable hardship because of changes to their state pension age, with 3000 affected in Leicester West alone. This injustice can’t go on. I was proud to sign the @WASPI_Campaign pledge in Parliament today to reaffirm my support for their campaign pic.twitter.com/r0mtngaI6e
— Liz Kendall (@leicesterliz) October 16, 2019
This is a shocking decision from Labour, given their parliamentarians’ ubiquitous calls for justice for WASPI women while in opposition.
GRAEME
The WASPI scandal has dragged on for years and years now, with the women affecting having campaigned tirelessly for what they are owed.
It is just the latest and most jarring example of a Labour Party that has strayed so far from its pledge of ‘change’.
So many of their most prominent figures made demands and made promises to these women, and if they think they will just now wheesht then they are truly mistaken – the SNP, for one, will continue to push for what is obviously right.
Pleasure to speak in the state pension age debate and talk about women who are being treated so badly. Govt please listen. #WASPI
— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) February 1, 2016
The examples of Labour politicians previously pledging their support for WASPI women are countless.
Though it would seems that certain high profile figures may have already been removing evidence of their past comments and commitments.
Great to join the Five Towns WASPI women in Castleford earlier today to sign the WASPI pledge – will keep up the campaign for fair deal pic.twitter.com/6jk1vhBWLo
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) May 6, 2017
I am delighted to support the work of the @WASPI_Campaign in West Dunbartonshire & across the country who are fighting hard for justice and compensation for the ridiculous way that they have been treated by the UK govt. Join the campaign today: https://t.co/WXMkni5bLH #WASPI pic.twitter.com/symqLQe8sh
— Jackie Baillie (@jackiebmsp) April 24, 2019
A vote for Labour on Thursday will put Labour into Downing Street on Friday morning with a national compensation scheme for WASPI women.
— Richard Leonard (@LabourRichard) December 10, 2019
A vote for the SNP will deliver nothing more than their MPs continuing to achieve nothing beyond the odd stunt at Westminster. https://t.co/v1AuMWzVpO
