A woman whose state pension age was unexpectedly lifted dies every 14 minutes without getting justice, campaigners warn - as Tories are accused of an "unforgivable" failure.
In a stinging letter to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, leaders of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign blasted Boris Johnson for not delivering on promises made to 3.8 million women.
Both leadership candidates have refused to commit to resolving the years-long dispute after being confronted by affected women during their leadership campaigns.
The letter, which campaigners are urging supporters to sign, states: "As a group of older women, who have contributed much to our country and continue to do so, we regard the present administration’s approach to us as unforgivable."
At a campaign event in Cardiff, Mr Sunak said he "cannot promise you I'm going to suddenly radically change my mind", while Ms Truss told voter Patricia Morgan at a televised debate last week that it "would be very difficult to go back".
National campaign chair Angela Madden told The Mirror: "It is disappointing to see both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss already taking a dismissive tone about WASPI's simple and sensible ask that women be compensated for clear mistakes made at DWP.
"Neither candidate seems to understand that the Ombudsman has already agreed there was proven maladministration in government."
She added it is "not too late" for the next PM to change their mind, saying: "Since another WASPI woman dies every 14 minutes, we cannot afford to wait for any more Prime Ministers to come and go. We need a remedy now before more of us go to our graves."
The campaign - which represents women born in the 1950s whose retirement age was raised by up to six years without proper notice - has called for a one-off compensation payment.
It says the government has continually misrepresented its aims and "dismissed" letters - saying the next PM must do better.
The letter, led by 42 regional campaigners from across the country, states: "Far from engaging us, ministers persistently and – we worry – wilfully misrepresent our position, claiming that we are seeking restitution of the State Pension age to 60, or that we wish to recoup ‘lost pensions’ in full.
"Media statements from government also imply that the campaign group WASPI is challenging the legality of changes to the State Pension Age.
"None of these things is true. Our simple, pragmatic ask is that ministers open a dialogue with us about a one-off compensation payment to make up for the financial loss and emotional trauma caused to women born in the 1950s, as a result of the maladministration at the DWP in the period 2008-2012."
It calls on the next Prime Minister to "take a more constructive and respectful position" and commit to meeting campaigners.
Back in July 2019, during his leadership campaign, Mr Johnson said he would "commit to doing everything I possibly can to sorting out" the issue - but is set to leave office without a resolution.
Campaigners estimate that the average affected woman lost up to £50,000 in State Pension after the retirement age was upped to 65, and then 66.
In July last year the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was guilty of "maladministration" for failing to give those impacted prior notice of the change.
A spokesman from the DWP said: "The Ombudsman investigation is still ongoing, there hasn’t been a ruling. The Ombudsman has so far only released the findings of the first stage of its investigation.
"They have not published their final report nor have recommendations been issued regarding compensation, so it would be wrong to claim compensation or other forms of official redress are currently outstanding or overdue."
