On Tuesday, December 17, the UK Labour government announced they would not give compensation to the estimated 3.6m women who lost out on thousands of pounds when women born in the 1950s were not properly informed of the rise in state pension age to bring them into line with men.
The current government’s decision not to award payments comes despite an independent government review in March recommending compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 for each of those affected.
Labour figures, including work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall and Wales’ two top ranking politicians, Welsh secretary Jo Stevens and First Minister Eluned Morgan had all backed the Waspi campaign. Responding to the criticism, Sir Keir said the delays to telling women about pension changes were “unacceptable”.
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“I’m afraid to say that taxpayers simply can’t afford the tens of billions of pounds in compensation when the evidence shows that 90% of those impacted did know about it, that’s because of the state of our economy.”
Following Prime Minister’s Questions which took place the day after the announcement a No 10 spokesman said that since winning the election, the government had “had the chance” to look at the ombudsman’s report, which said the women “faced no direct financial loss as a result of the delays”.
Here one of the women impacted lays out her feelings.
Dear Mr Starmer, or should that be Scrooge!!
I’m a Waspi coordinator for Bridgend and Valleys group in Bridgend. I’m 71 years young, widowed, disabled and a retired ward sister, where I worked from the age of 18 in the NHS.
I’ve been a Labour supporter since I started to talk, I’m a proud Welsh woman from a family that worked in the coal mines, steel works, Ford, or the NHS mainly, all off which the Government off the day as destroyed, closed, removing livelihoods communities and futures.
I always blamed the Tories and you said to wait until Labour gets back in power, the party [of] the working class? I can choke now on my words, I’m ashamed to be associated with the Labour Party if this is how you govern in 2024. You are like Robin Hood in reverse, taking from the poor giving to the rich.
You’re destroying the party & running our country into the ground. Now I know how you tried so hard to get rid off Jeremy Corbyn, you have lost the meaning [of] the social party.
Labour values are non evident. You have sadly lied time and time again, going back on issues in your manifesto that you were elected on. Broken promises, billionaires making our country poor, poorer and rich, richer. Billionaires telling me they know how I live and how I feel, clearly you don’t have a clue.
The Post office fiasco, destroying lives, yes now justice and the truth is coming to light, yet you have not paid their compensation. You robbed the miners off their pension fund, only now being rectified. You have allowed social services to hit rock bottom with more children being abused, neglected and living in poverty.
The cost of living is going through the roof, the police force used abused and inadequate numbers on the streets. You have robbed OAP of winter fuel allowance, the NHS is on its knees, you have removed the GREAT out [of] Great Britain.
I can’t believe I voted for you.
Then, after eight years of continual campaigning being supported by cross party MPs, unions, retired/aged national forums, after the ombudsman finally finding that there was a case for maladministration, today with a stern glib face you quietly stated that Waspi woman will not get compensation. The only thing I’m surprised about is you didn’t tell us on Christmas Eve.
Mr Starmer I can assure you we did not know the age to receive State Pensions was rising from 60 upwards for 1950s born-women. Do you think 1950s woman are so stupid they would not have made alternate arrangements had they known ?
We had no notice, we have lost many thousands with women not receiving one penny of the subscriptions they paid in. We had no choice, NI was compulsory but the government moved the goal posts with no notice.
You left woman destitute, living in poverty, in ill health, selling their homes. Women were left and one dying every nine minutes.
You are completely out off touch with the working class. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
How you can decide that Waspi woman will not get compensation, because the tax payer will have to pay. Where do you think the money for your 4.2% pay increase is coming from? Your expenses, fuel bills paid for, second homes, freebies adding to thousands pounds, your subsidised meals. Don’t you think you should tell us [where] all our subscriptions went, who spent our pension pot?
I don’t think you are capable [of] knowing the reality how we the working class survive let alone live.
I’m angry, I’m disgusted with all those MPS who stood by Waspi women and said they supported us and now they are allowing this misjustice once again against us discriminated 1950s woman,
I wonder if this would have happened to 1950s men what would have been the outcome? All the lies, broken promises.
You have turned your backs on us once you had our votes. But karma is strange thing, and those voted in can be voted out.
Remember one thing for certain, Waspi women are not going away.
I promise you we will fight on for justice, I swear I will never support Labour again. Enjoy destroying our country in your term of office because I know you won’t get elected again.
Merry Christmas Mr Starmer,
Jocelyn Morgan, Waspi Bridgend & Valleys Group