Alba Party condemn WASPI Women betrayal
Alba Party have condemned the UK Labour Government’s betrayal of WASPI women.
The ombudsman had previously advised the Government to pay compensation.
Alba Party’s Deputy General Secretary Corri Wilson led calls previously at the House of Commons for compensation to women born in the 1950s who have been campaigning against state pension inequality during her time as an MP.
Women affected by the state pension age changes have eagerly waited on the verdict of an investigation into the failures of the Government’s communication of the policy.
The report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) recommended an award of compensation for the injustice the women have faced.
However, the UK Government have today confirmed that they will not pay compensation to WASPI women.
Alba Party now have hit out at the “betrayal”.
Alba Party’s Corri Wilson has criticised the decision not to fully accept the findings and commit to paying the full compensation recommended by the PHSO for WASPI women. She described it as “the latest betrayal by this Labour Government. First, it was the pensioners' Winter Fuel Payments, and now it’s the WASPI women. People across the country will be deeply disappointed, feeling they voted for Labour in the hope of change, only to be let down once again.”
The WASPI campaign has identified some 3.8 million women born in the 1950s who suddenly found they would have to work many more years when the State Pension age was increased to 65 between 2016 and 2018 and then to 66, for both men and women across the UK in October, 2020. WASPI is not against equalisation, however, they do not accept the "unfair way the changes were implemented with inadequate or not notice."
The Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman found that 1950s women were victims of maladministration in stage 1 of its investigation but stage 2 which will determine compensation has been delayed.
Commenting Alba Party Deputy General Secretary Corri Wilson said:
"Keir Starmer previously pledged that he supported the fast and fair payment of compensation to WASPI women but Labour pledges are now no longer worth the paper they were written on.
"WASPI women have been treated appallingly by successive Governments. They deserve to be compensated due to the maladministration of the UK Government and Keir Starmer and the Labour Party have today betrayed millions of women across the UK and I suspect they will never be forgiven. They have waited for this wrong to be righted for far too long already only for Labour to shatter their hopes.”
