SCOTLAND’S First Minister has backed calls for a vote to be held on the UK Government failing to provide compensation for Waspi women.
It comes following an announcement from Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall on Tuesday that no compensation will be paid as the proposed payment scheme was not “fair or value for taxpayers’ money”.
This is despite several Labour MPs, including Keir Starmer (below) and his deputy Angela Rayner, having previously been photographed with Waspi women to show their support.
Images of Kendall alongside Waspi campaigners were also circulating on social media after the announcement while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has been called out for his pledge that Waspi women would “get the justice they deserve” under his leadership.
Writing on Twitter/X, the SNP’s leader in Westminster Stephen Flynn said: “There must be a Commons vote on Labour’s decision to betray the Waspi campaigners.
“All those Labour MPs who once pretended to back Waspi must now be faced with the voting lobbies.”
Flynn’s post was reposted by John Swinney who said: “Absolutely.”
Scotland’s Transport Secretary and MSP for Linlithgow Fiona Hyslop also called on Scottish Labour MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow to oppose Westminster’s plans after sharing an image of her alongside campaigners.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) had investigated complaints that, since 1995, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) failed to provide accurate, adequate and timely information about areas of state pension reform.
Labour MPs, including our local Bathgate and Linlithgow MP, who have any integrity must oppose the Westminster UK Labour Government’s betrayal of the WASPI women. https://t.co/Ph0hC0uPHK
— Fiona Hyslop (@FionaHyslop) December 18, 2024
The PHSO recommended compensation at a level of between £1000 and £2950 per person, as well as saying the DWP should acknowledge its failings and apologise.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Rachel Reeves defended the UK Government’s decision not to award any compensation.
She said: “I understand that women affected by the changes to the state pension age feel disappointed by this decision.
“We looked in full at the ombudsman’s recommendations and they said that 90% of women did know that these changes were coming and as Chancellor I have to account for every penny of taxpayers’ money spent.
“Given that the vast majority of people did know about these changes, I didn’t judge that it would be the best use of taxpayers’ money to pay an expensive compensation bill for something that most people knew was happening.”
