‘Give Waspi women fair and fast compensation’

MORE than two-thirds of people want women in their 50s to be given fair and fast compensation for not being told of changes to the pension age.

Campaigners argue both the Tories and Labour are “dangerously out of step with public opinion” by failing to redress the wrong done to 3.6 million “Waspis”.

An exclusive poll for the Sunday Express found 68 per cent said women have been badly let down by successive administrations, have waited too long for a resolution and the Government should sort the issue.

More than half backed calls by campaigners Women Against State Pension Inequality to allow MPS to vote on compensation levels.

And 65 per cent said all parties should have a manifesto commitment if the matter is not resolved before the general election.

But more trusted Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to deliver than Prime Minister Rishi

Sunak or Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey. Women born after April 5, 1950, had their state pension age increased through the 1995 Pension Act.

It raised the age of retirement to 65.Then a revised Act in 2011 saw it rise again – this time to 66, in line with men.

But after nearly six years of investigation, a landmark report by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in March found maladministration when the Department for Works and Pensions failed to provide accurate, adequate and timely information about the changes. It recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950.

But last week the interim ombudsman told MPS this should be higher.

Waspi has called for compensation of £10,000 and said more than 5,500 women have died since the report was published six weeks ago. Chair Angela Madden said: “The public have put both main parties on notice.

“Unless they make a firm commitment to compensation, they will be dangerously out of step with public opinion.

“Ministers seem to have gone into hiding and Labour have yet to make their position clear. With one woman dying every 13 minutes, Waspi women simply cannot afford to wait any longer.”