ANAS Sarwar has been challenged to whip his Scottish Labour MPs to back compensation for Waspi women in a crunch vote set to take place in the Commons on Tuesday.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn will present a bill at Westminster – on which the SNP have said they will force a vote – which if passed would require the Labour Government to compensate 1950s-born women who lost out amid changes to the state pension age.
Last March, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) recommended compensation of £1000 to £2950 per person after historic failures in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) meant pension age changes were not properly communicated.
Despite this, the Labour UK Government has refused to offer any compensation, a move the ombudsman has subsequently described as “extremely unusual” given there is a 99.9% compliance rate for its recommendations.
While in opposition, key Labour figures including Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed a pledge for “fair and fast” compensation for Waspi campaigners (Women Against State Pension Inequality).
In Holyrood last week, MSPs unanimously voted to call on the UK Government to deliver compensation including those from Scottish Labour, sparking huge debate about how the party’s MPs will vote at Westminster.
SNP deputy Westminster leader Pete Wishart (below) has subsequently written a letter to Sarwar insisting the Scottish Labour vote at Holyrood will only mean something if it is reflected by MPs in the Commons.
“Only by applying the maximum pressure, can we ensure Waspi women finally get the justice and compensation they deserve.
"I am pleased that the SNP's Waspi compensation bill now has support from MPs of all the main parties at Westminster but given the size of the supermajority held by the Labour government, it is vital that Scottish Labour MPs vote in favour.
"During the UK General Election, you promised you would stand up to Keir Starmer but instead Scottish Labour MPs have rolled-over and backed every damaging decision from Downing Street. Many people are starting to think that you are a lame duck leader of the Scottish Labour Party with no authority, influence or sway over your own MPs or the Labour government.
“This is an opportunity to prove your critics wrong.”
Ahead of the vote on Tuesday, Waspi campaigners in Scotland have backed Flynn’s “Women’s State Pension Age (Ombudsman Report and Compensation Scheme) Bill”, calling on all MPs to back it.
Linda Carmichael, the chair of Waspi Scotland, said: "Waspi Scotland are pleased to support SNP MP Stephen Flynn’s 10-minute rule bill taking place in Westminster on Tuesday.
“It’s important that we encourage all those affected to contact their MPs to ask for support of the bill as we continue to pursue compensation recommended by PHSO."
Sarwar has said he believes the UK Government has made the wrong decision in refusing to pay out, but he did not make clear last week how Scottish Labour MPs would vote if one took place at Westminster.
Flynn’s bill would “require the Secretary of State to publish proposals for a compensation scheme for women born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1960 inclusive who have been affected by increases in the state pension age”.
It is likely to receive cross-party support, but will need a sizeable Labour rebellion in order to pass.
