MP demands payouts for WASPI campaigners
Fight for compensation
THE MP for Inverclyde is demanding swift compensation payments for local women who lost out on pension payments.
Ronnie Cowan has been an active campaigner for justice for WASPI campaigners, who were born in the 1950s and have been affected by the rapid rise in the retirement age.
A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) recently found in favour of the cases sampled.
They said there had been an injustice and that an apology and compensation should be forthcoming because the women not properly informed of the changes.
Mr Cowan says he supports the findings and that justice must be done.
He said: “The WASPI women have been very badly let down.
“Many will have died while waiting for the compensation they deserve.
“This matter should be a priority for the UK Government and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report provides all the information required for a speedy conclusion.
“The only question now is how much compensation will be paid.
“This denial of justice for the women is disgraceful and has been allowed to go on for far too long.
“The PHSO report is rightly scathing in its criticism of the Department for Work and Pensions.
“After all this time the UK Government must pay compensation to the WASPI women and pay it promptly.
“The ball is in its court.”
The WASPI women were affected by the 2011 Pensions Act which raised the retirement age to 65 without proper notice.
The ombudsman has recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 but cannot enforce it.
Minister for work and pensions Mel Stride has refused to confirm whether the government will pay.
Labour also failed to say what it would do regarding compensation, but called on the Work and Pensions
Secretary to return to the Commons quickly.
Mr Cowan put pressure on the minister in the Commons over the matter.
He said: “I ask the outgoing government and the incoming government to show these women the respect they are due and commit to playing compensation.”
Mr Stride replied that the government would look at the ombudsman report carefully for the benefit of those concerned and would act without undue delay.
Mr Cowan told the Telegraph: “The unjustified state pension changes have saved the UK government £181 billion.
“To pay ten thousand pounds compensation to the WASPI women would still net a saving of £145 billion pounds to the UK Exchequer.
“The UK Government must acknowledge the conclusions of this report, the DWP must apologise and compensation should be forthcoming immediately.
“In their 2019 manifesto the UK Labour Party promised ‘very generous compensation’ if they were in government. They should revisit that pledge now.
“One way or another we need to see immediate action on this to compensate women in my constituency, across Scotland and the UK.”