Calls for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to begin sending out WASPI compensation worth £2,950 are “gaining traction”. Reports say Labour Party MPs are joining the calls for the DWP to compensate women impacted.
MPs supporting the WASPI cause have lodged two new early day motions criticising this stance. One of the motions “condemns the Government’s refusal to provide any compensation” and urges ministers to “rethink this heartless decision”.
It also mentions the Liberal Democrats’ long-standing calls for “fair compensation”, after the Ombudsman last year called for WASPI women to be handed payouts ranging anywhere from £1,000 to £2,950 each.
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John McDonnell, a former Labour Party Shadow Chancellor, has led the calls for the DWP to fork out. He said in the Commons this week: “Not to have that implemented has crushed people. It’s crushed their confidence in the whole system.”
He said: “I have to say to my own party in Government, what we need now is the Government to sit down with the WASPI women. Either implement this scheme or mediate for an alternative. We need action.” The MP added: “This issue isn’t going to go away, we’re not going to go away.
“The women aren’t going away. Tragically some of them are dying, but this campaign will go on until we secure justice.” Mr McDonnell has also added his support this week for another early day motion demanding the Government “to reverse this decision, and finally deliver justice for the 3.6 million affected 1950s-born women”, which is currently supported by 11 MPs.
Torsten Bell, the new Pensions Minister, told McDonnell: “As custodians of the public purse, we must also ensure that decisions are rooted in evidence and are fair to everyone. The fact remains that the vast majority of women knew the state pension age was increasing.
“Even for those who didn’t, we know that sending letters earlier would not have made a difference in most cases. So while I know this decision will be disappointing, as we are hearing, and many have had frustrations at watching this debate drag on for years, we believe it is the right course of action.”