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Liz Kendall announces Waspi women will not receive compensation<\/p>\nThe WASPI campaign says they have been given a green light for High Court challenge.<\/p>\n
14:42, 06 Jun 2025Updated 20:17, 07 Jun 2025<\/p>\n
Liz Kendall announces Waspi women will not receive compensation<\/p>\n
The Women Against State Pension Inequality<\/a> (WASPI) campaign group say they have cleared a significant hurdle in their battle for a High Court challenge. WASPI is seeking a judicial review to force the UK Government to reconsider its decision to rule out a compensation package for women affected by the way changes to the State Pension age were communicated.<\/p>\n The campaigners<\/a> announced on Friday they have received an update to say that their case is arguable, setting them on course for a court hearing.<\/p>\n A previous report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman<\/a> (PHSO) suggested compensation ranging between \u00a31,000 and \u00a32,950 could be appropriate for each of those affected.<\/p>\n READ MORE: New WASPI online map shows position of every MP on State Pension age change compensation<\/a>READ MORE: State Pension back payments of up to \u00a38,377 due for women in their 60s and 70s<\/a><\/p>\n However, in December 2024, the UK Government said that, while it accepted the Ombudsman\u2019s finding of maladministration and apologised for there being a delay in writing to 1950s-born women, a blanket compensation scheme, which could cost taxpayers up to \u00a310.5 billion, cannot be justified.<\/p>\n WASPI campaigners submitted arguments back in February for a legal case challenging the decision not to compensate women.<\/p>\n Lawyers for the campaigners argue that the UK Government\u2019s reasons for concluding that people should not receive any remedy are a breach of legal principles.<\/p>\n WASPI said it also expects a hearing to consider its application for a costs capping order, so that campaigners would not be forced to pay unknown costs to cover the legal fees should they lose.<\/p>\n However, the group said that it may be forced to withdraw its challenge without this financial safeguard. It is also calling on supporters to help raise further funds for the legal challenge.<\/p>\n WASPI chairwoman Angela Madden described the green light in its legal challenge as a \u201clandmark moment in our campaign\u201d.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cWe are grateful for the funds raised so far and understand the country\u2019s purse strings are tight, but the Government cannot be allowed to brush this injustice aside.\u201d<\/p>\n A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson told the PA news agency: \u201cWe do not comment on live litigation. We have apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, we do not agree with the Ombudsman\u2019s approach to injustice or remedy and that is why we have decided not to pay compensation.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier this week, WASPI launched a new interactive tool which shows the UK-wide state of play of MP support for a compensation scheme for an estimated 3.6 million women affected by changes to their retirement age.<\/p>\n The new analysis shows 179 MPs have publicly blasted the UK Government\u2019s decision not to compensate WASPI women<\/a> in recent months. WASPI said that of these, 56 Labour MPs have openly criticised Downing Street\u2019s failure to deliver justice, while dozens more are thought to be supportive behind the scenes, including several senior ministers.<\/p>\n The map shows how smaller parties are almost unanimous in their support, with a strong coalition of Liberal Democrat, Reform UK, SNP, Green, Plaid Cymru and DUP MPs backing calls to compensate<\/a> WASPI women.<\/p>\n The smaller parties are almost unanimous in their support, with a strong coalition of Liberal Democrat, Reform UK, SNP, Green, Plaid Cymru and DUP MPs backing calls to compensate WASPI women.<\/p>\n Around a dozen Conservative MPs have also recently reaffirmed their support for compensation.<\/p>\n The findings come at the launch of WASPI\u2019s new website<\/a>, which has new resources to enable supporters to write to their MP and join the campaign for as little as \u00a315 per year.<\/p>\n Some of the strongest advocates for WASPI women include members of the State Pension Inequality for Women APPG, chaired by Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey.<\/p>\n The cross-party group of MPs is one of the largest in Parliament and includes representatives from across the major political parties who have vowed to continue the fight for justice.<\/p>\n However, WASPI campaigners say 134 MPs previously backed calls for compensation but have failed to reaffirm their support since the Labour Government\u2019s announcement in December.<\/p>\n The figures do not include serving government ministers or whips, at least 80 of whom have previously pledged their support for the campaign.<\/p>\n All MPs\u2019 positions on compensation can be found on WASPI\u2019s interactive \u2018state of the nation\u2019 map, alongside new campaign resources, here.<\/a><\/p>\n Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group<\/a> for money-saving tips, the latest State Pension and benefits news, energy bill advice and cost of living updates.<\/p>\n Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday with a special cost of living edition every Thursday – sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also follow us on X<\/strong> (formerly Twitter) @Recordmoney_<\/a> for regular updates throughout the day or get money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_DR-MOney.png\")
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