A SCOTTISH Labour MP has called on his colleagues to “do the right thing” and back the SNP’s bid to force the UK Government to compensate Waspi women.
Backbencher Brian Leishman said women born in the 1950s who were unaware of changes to the state pension age rushed through by previous governments were “victims of injustice”.
The Alloa and Grangemouth MP told the Daily Record: “I urge all Labour colleagues across the entire PLP to do the right thing by Waspi women and vote for them to receive compensation and to get what’s rightfully theirs. The fact is that Waspi women are the victims of injustice.
“Many of us have campaigned alongside these women when we were in opposition and solidarity is never transactional, it’s not something that is used to appeal to a group or a cause and then forgotten about.”
The SNP will today force a vote on establishing a compensation scheme for Waspi women, as was recommended by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) which said the Department for Work and Pensions had failed to communicate state pension age changes properly.
The UK Government has rejected the recommendation to pay Waspi women between £1000 to £2950.
But Labour MSPs backed a call in the Scottish Parliament earlier this month for the UK Government to compensate those affected.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn will introduce a bill to Parliament to give MPs the chance to vote on the principle of compensation – though it is certain to be voted down.
He said: “Today, Labour MPs must decide whether they will keep - or break - their promises to Waspi women.
"By voting for the Waspi compensation bill, MPs can apply the maximum pressure to force the UK government to deliver the long-overdue financial compensation and justice that Waspi women deserve.
"Waspi women feel badly betrayed by the Labour Party's broken promises and, in particular, the damaging decision to block compensation.”
Flynn (above) pointed to examples including the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner both previously speaking out in favour of compensation.
Since entering government, Labour have said it would be too expensive to compensate the women affected and have argued that most knew about the changes.
Flynn added: “Ahead of the election, Keir Starmer – and other senior Labour Party figures – were quick to have their photos taken with Waspi campaigners and promised, in no uncertain terms, that they would get ‘fair and fast compensation’.
“Yet, within weeks of getting into Downing Street, the Labour government has thrown Waspi women under the bus in yet another broken promise – just as they did with the scrapping of the Winter Fuel Payment.
“I urge MPs to do the right thing, and honour the promises that were repeatedly made to Waspi women, by voting for the Waspi compensation bill today.”
Linda Carmichael, 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.”
Anne Potter, co-ordinator of the Waspi campaign in Glasgow and Lanarkshire, added: “We feel we have been betrayed and are extremely disappointed, particularly with our new Labour MPs.”
