WASPI campaigners (Women Against State Pension Inequality) are once again readying to lay out their case for compensation before MPs. The group of women, set to put forward their arguments in front of the influential Work and Pensions Committee, remains steadfast in their fight for justice over the state pension age hike from 60 to 65, followed by another increase to 66.
This forthcoming session comes after last month’s declaration by Labour that the affected women born in the 1950s would receive no redress. Despite the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman identifying ‘maladministration’ in how the DWP communicated the changes, pensions minister Liz Kendall asserted in the Commons that there will be no compensatory payments.
She insisted that most women knew about the pension age adjustments and argued that compensation is not a fiscally responsible action at the expense of taxpayers.
Chair of the WASPI campaign Angela Madden expressed her views on the upcoming committee meeting, stating: “That will be an opportunity for us to talk to the committee about what are our options now, what we would like to happen now. The select committee is part of the Government process. They are the people who hold the Department of Work and Pensions to account.”
She emphasised the significance of the select committee’s role, adding: “A letter from them or a request from them has to be taken seriously by the department.”, reports Lancs Live. These comments come as the campaigners eagerly anticipate the evidence meeting, scheduled for January 22.
Under the previous Tory-led Government, the committee showed support for compensation, with Labour’s Debbie Abrahams among its members. She now chairs the current committee.
MPs across parties, particularly from Liberal Democrats and SNP who’ve made it their policy, have long been advocating for compensation. Following the Government’s recent decision against offering compensation to women affected by state pension age changes, Ms Madden stressed the necessity of briefing the new committee.
“Circumstances have definitely changed since the announcement for us,” she said. “We want to help the committee who are responsible for the DWP hold them to account.”
In response to the Government’s opposition to compensate Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) claimants, pro-compensation MPs have launched two early day motions.
The first criticises the lack of action and has garnered 41 MP signatures, calling for “fair treatment” of the women involved. A second motion, with 9 signatures, requests overturning the decision.
Additionally, WASPI campaigners are gearing up for a forthcoming debate in Westminster Hall on Wednesday, January 15. On this activity, Ms Madden shared: “We are writing out to all the MPs who support us asking them to go along. I’m sure the independents will be there.”