WASPI campaigners have issued a defiant rallying cry to the Labour government as their fight for pension compensation reaches its tenth anniversary. Angela Madden, chair of the campaign, declared "we are not going away" after the government rejected recommendations for £2,950 payouts from the Department for Work and Pensions.
A new poll of 5,000 WASPI women reveals the depth of political disillusionment among those affected by state pension age changes. Around nine in ten feel their votes have been taken for granted by Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) and his Cabinet, while 80 per cent believe both Labour and the Conservatives simply do not care about WASPI women.
Political abandonment revealed
The polling data shows two in five WASPI women would either be unsure who to vote for or would not bother voting at all if there were a general election tomorrow. This represents a significant political shift among a demographic that has traditionally been engaged in the democratic process.
Madden said: "It is no surprise that Waspi women feel totally abandoned by those who once promised to right this historic injustice. After 10 years of campaigning, this generation of women are more determined than ever to secure the justice we are due."
The campaign has endured through six Prime Ministers and nine Pensions Ministers over the past decade, according to Mirror reports. Despite the political disappointment, 51 per cent of WASPI women report increased motivation to vote, the Mirror reveals.
Government rejects compensation
The government rejected the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's recommendation for compensation payments of up to £2,950 per woman in December 2024. This came despite the government accepting that maladministration had occurred in how the state pension age changes were communicated to affected women.
The state pension age for women gradually increased from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2018, then rose to 66 in 2020, with a further increase to 67 planned by 2028. The Ombudsman found women needed 28 months more notice of these changes than they received.
Legal action threatened
Madden warned that ministers should "heed the calls of many of their own MPs and get around the table with Waspi women, or face being forced to defend the indefensible in court later this year." The campaign is preparing potential legal action against the government's decision.
The potential compensation bill could reach £10.5 billion for taxpayers, according to Mirror analysis. The government has cited research showing the "vast majority" of women approaching retirement were aware of the pension age changes as justification for rejecting compensation.
Sources used: "Birmingham Mail", "Manchester Evening News", "Mirror"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
