ANAS Sarwar has broken his silence after the Labour Government said it would not give Waspi women any compensation, despite an ombudsman’s findings.
The Scottish Labour leader is among the numerous senior figures from his party to have backed calls for “justice” for the 1950s-born women who lost out amid changes to the state pension age.
Earlier in 2024, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said affected women should get between £1000 and £2950 each in compensation as changes to their state pension age were not adequately communicated.
However, Labour’s Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said on Tuesday that the Waspi women would be offered nothing beyond an apology.
Challenged on the decision by the SNP, Kendall said the Scottish Government should pay compensation.
Asked for his reaction on Wednesday, Sarwar told ITV Border that he did not think his party bosses had made the right decision.
NEW: Scottish Labour leader criticises UK Government's rejection of compensation for WASPI women.@AnasSarwar says 'I don't think it's the right decision on compensation', and some form of payment could have been offered pic.twitter.com/yDdVnwZlmQ
— Representing Border (@ITVBorderRB) December 18, 2024
“I don't think the decision that the Government has come to is the right one on compensation,” the Scottish Labour MSP said.
“I think they've come to the right place on injustice and they've come to the right place on apology, but I don't think it's the right decision on compensation.
“And I think given these public finances, I think a different way forward could have been found.”
Pressed, he went on: “Look, I agree with [Waspi women] on their frustration, and that's why I campaigned alongside them, and I accept that frustration.
“And therefore, as I say, I don't think this is the adequate package.
“I think it was right to have the apology. I think it was right to respect the injustice, but I think a fairer decision could have been made around the compensation …
“They could have looked at targeted support to low income pensioners. They could have looked at tapering, they could have looked at increments. They could have looked at a whole host of issues.”
Responding, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: "Labour’s Branch Office manager in Scotland helpfully confirming, once again, that he holds no sway over Labour in London."
The decision not to compensate Waspi women is likely to cause further trouble for Labour in Scotland, where the UK Government decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment has hit them in the polls – especially among older people.
Sarwar’s bid to draw a line between his group and its UK party bosses will be with an eye on the 2026 Holyrood elections – during which he has previously said he needs a popular UK Labour Government to win.
SNP MSP Clare Haughey challenged Sarwar to meet the Waspi women outside the Holyrood parliament on Thursday and "take ownership of the UK Labour Government's decision not to compensate".
She further said that Sarwar "must outline what, if any, representations he has made to his bosses in Westminster, including Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, on behalf of these pensioners".
“For many families, this Christmas will be a very difficult period,” she said. “Since they came to office, Labour have already targeted the pockets of millions of pensioners across the UK and now they are reneging on a pledge to pay Waspi women what they were promised.
“Christmas is a time of goodwill for many but the Prime Minister has managed to purloin that from households across the country even more so than the previous UK government managed.
“Keir Starmer is less like a Prime Minister and more like a character from Dickensian times. He’s certainly no Santa Claus, and he’s playing the role of Scrooge well, but sadly there is no sign of him having an epiphany and improving Christmas for our pensioners and Waspi women.”
