Waspi women push Starmer to commit to redress

Campaigners demanding justice for women hit by changes to the state pension age have urged Sir Keir Starmer to commit to compensation in Labour’s general election manifesto.

A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) into any failures at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) over communication of the policy – which could recommend a compensation scheme – is expected within weeks.

However, the Government has given no commitment to make payments. Rishi Sunak said last year only that his Government would “respond appropriately” to the ombudsman’s recommendations.

Angela Madden, chair of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign, said the group fears the Prime Minister and his Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, will delay any decision about money until after the election.

“We fear the current Government will kick any decision on compensation into the long grass,” Ms Madden (inset) said.

Pensions minister Paul Maynard told MPs on Tuesday that the Government could not promise compensation until the ombudsman finishes its probe.

“Until we know the contents of that report, I – as a government minister with a duty to manage public money properly – cannot make any such commitment,” he said.

The minister also said he recognised the “huge strength of feeling among 50sborn women about the increase to their state pension age and the way in which it was communicated”.

Waspi campaigners say women born during in the 50s were not properly informed that their state pension would increase from 60 to 65 to match men.