Women’s pension group votes ‘vital in election’
CAMPAIGNERS COULD DETERMINE WHO WINS SEAT
WOMEN’S pension campaigners have warned politicians their support could be critical at the ballot box.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign has called on political parties to commit to “delivering fair and fast compensation”.
Neither the Conservatives nor Labour have committed to compensating Waspi women after a watchdog ruled those born in the 1950s were not properly notified that the state pension age was rising and should receive pay-outs.
Campaigners said many women found out too late to alter their retirement plans and have been left “in dire financial straits”, with one in three in debt as a result.
Across the UK, more than two million Waspi women live in constituencies won by the Conservatives at the last General Election and one million in seats won by Labour.
Of these, almost 60,000 live in Leicestershire and Rutland – 43,750 in seven constituencies currently held by the Tories and 14,950 in three Labour-held constituencies.
Among the seats which could be impacted is that held by shadow secretary of state for work and pensions Liz Kendall.
The Labour MP for Leicester West has 4,190 Waspi members living in her constitutency – just shy of the 4,212 majority she had in 2019.
Ms Kendall recently spoke in Parliament on the matter.
She said Labour “will look carefully” at the ombudsman report, and will “continue to listen respectfully to those involved”.
She said the party has previously called for a 15-year notice period for state pension changes, as opposed to the 10 years currently given.
“Labour is fully committed to guaranteeing that information about
It’s clear the votes of those affected will have a big impact in a General Election
any future changes to the state pension age is provided in a timely and targeted way that is, wherever possible, tailored to individual needs,” she said.
Leicester East is one of the 166 marginal constituencies nationally where the number of Waspi women is larger than the parliamentary majority at the 2019 election.
Current MP Claudia Webbe now sits as an independent after being expelled from the Labour Party in 2021.
Labour’s prospective candidate is Rajesh Agrawal. The Conservative Party has not yet announced its candidate for the seat.
The Waspi vote could also have an influence in seats currently held by the Tories, such as Loughborough, which was won by Jane Hunt in 2019 with a majority of 7,169.
About 5,400 Waspi women live in the town.
Waspi chairwoman Angela Madden said: “The ombudsman’s report shows clear maladministration by the Department for Work and Pensions and recommends compensation to be paid urgently to the 3.6 million affected women.
“With the numbers of Waspi women outnumbering the majorities of nearly 170 MPs, it’s clear the votes of those affected will have a big impact in a General Election.
“What we need now is all parties in Westminster to make an urgent commitment to delivering fair and fast compensation and for the government to allow a debate on the proposals so all MPs can have their say.”
Campaigners said research shows that 60 per cent of Waspi women have yet to decide how to cast their vote.
Letters have now been prepared to send to prospective parliamentary candidates demanding a “clear political commitment to fair and fast compensation”.
Angela Madden