STEPHEN Flynn has written to every MP at Westminster urging them to heed calls from Waspi campaigners and support his bill which would see them paid compensation.
On Tuesday, the SNP Westminster leader 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.
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).
However, in power they have refused to pay out – leading the PHSO to accuse the Government of “undermining” their ombudsman role and Waspi campaigners to say they have been “betrayed”.
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."
Anne Potter, the coordinator of the Waspi Glasgow and Lanarkshire campaign group, added: “We feel we have been betrayed and are extremely disappointed, particularly with our new Labour MPs."
Scottish Labour MSPs at Holyrood voted for compensation in a vote last week, and group leader Anas Sarwar has said he believes the UK Government has made the wrong decision in refusing to pay out.
Tuesday’s vote will present a stern test for his Scottish Labour MPs, who during the General Election pledged not to blindly follow Starmer’s wishes but instead stand up for their constituents and Scottish Labour policy.
In his letter to all MPs, Flynn said: “As we all know from our email and postal inboxes, Waspi women feel utterly betrayed by the UK Government's decision to deny compensation, which came despite the many promises made by all of our parties over many years, including during the recent UK general election.
"Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner, Rachel Reeves, Liz Kendall, Anas Sarwar and Ian Murray are among those who have previously pledged their support for financial compensation for Waspi women, only to break that promise as soon as the Labour Party got into government.
"We all know that trust in Westminster is at rock bottom. Politicians who promise 'change' at the ballot box, only to break their promises in government, are eroding and destroying public trust.
"As Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner once said: ‘The UK Government failed women born in the 1950s. They stole their pensions. We've said we'll right that injustice. Within the five years of a Labour government, we will compensate them for the money that they've lost. This is their money that they've had stolen from them and it's completely unacceptable.’
"It is essential for justice, and trust in politics, that MPs keep – not break – their promises to Waspi women and finally deliver the long-overdue financial compensation they deserve.”
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.
Previously, a Labour Government spokesperson said: “We accept the ombudsman’s finding of maladministration and have apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.
“However, evidence showed only one in four people remember reading and receiving letters that they weren’t expecting and that by 2006 90% of 1950s-born women knew that the State Pension age was changing.
“Earlier letters wouldn’t have affected this. For these and other reasons the government cannot justify paying for a £10.5 billion compensation scheme at the expense of the taxpayer.”
