WASPI compensation update as MPs say it's 'clear' what should happen next

MPs backing the WASPI campaign have vented their fury at the lack of Government action despite a recent Ombudsman's report calling for compensation for women.

Gavin Newlands MP, vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on WASPI (Women against state pension inequality) told Express.co.uk there should be a vote in the Commons on compensation "as soon as possible".

He said: "The Ombudsman was clear – compensation should be paid to the WASPI women who suffered due to the DWP’s maladminstration.

"It is disgraceful that it took so long to get to this point, and it is a tribute to the women who took their cases forward, including a constituent of mine in Paisley and Renfrewshire North, that they have stayed the course throughout.

‌"But what is equally disgraceful is the Government’s categoric statement that it will ignore the Ombudsman’s findings and refuse to comply with its recommendations, and the Labour opposition’s refusal to support compensation.

"It is an insult to those who took these cases forward in the first place – including my constituent – and who have waited years for the Ombudsman’s report, and to the thousands of other WASPI women who have been denied state pension justice for many years."

‌The long-awaited report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman came out over a month ago, calling for payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950.

His comments come after a string of MPs across different parties told Express.co.uk that the Government needs to act now to deliver compensation for the 3.8 million women affected.

Steven Bonnar MP said it was a "national disgrace" that the Westminster Government continued to ignore the plight of 1950s-born women.

He said: "The level of compensation these women deserve should reflect not just the financial losses they've endured, but the years of anguish, stress, and hardship they've faced due to the government's egregious mishandling of pension reforms.

"It's time for the UK Government to acknowledge the immense harm it has caused and provide meaningful restitution to these women without further delay.

"As an MP, I've been inundated with heartbreaking stories from WASPI women in my constituency, each one a testament to the devastating impact of this injustice.

"They have reached out to me, desperate for help, for justice, for the recognition they deserve as hardworking citizens who have been wronged by their own Government."

The campaign took a step forward last week as a debate on the question of compensation was approved by the Backbench Business Committee.

Joanna Cherry MP said she was very disappointed there was still no plan in place for compensation.

She commented: "I have been contacted by many WASPI women in my constituency throughout the campaign and even more so now that the Ombudsman has made his decision.

"I have recently written to Mel Stride the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions calling on the government to bring forward proposals for compensation and put these to a vote and I will be backing my colleague Patricia Gibson MP’s backbench business debate.

"It is striking that the Ombudsman called on Parliament to intervene in this matter and sent his report directly to Parliament as he feared the Department for Work and Pensions would not heed his recommendations."

A bill has been brought forward by Alan Brown MP to get the Government to set out plans for compensation. This was due to get its second reading last week but the debate was postponed until next month.

Jim Shannon MP said: "It is disappointing that this debate has been pushed further back and that we have not had an indication from Government on the recommendations of the long awaited report which is something that deserves not simply governmental comment but action.

"Each day that passes see women continuing to live in hardship not of their own making and redress should be a priority. I have been contacted by women – and men – in my constituency thanking me for the work thus far but I know that the work is not finished until compensation is given.

"During my speeches, I advocated for a solution that one of the ladies in my constituency raised and that was a lump sum followed by an increased pension until the restitution is complete and this seems like a straightforward way for Government to get this sorted as a matter of urgency.

"I will continue to work with colleagues in Westminster to press Government to action and to ensuring that these women receive what should always have been theirs – respect and action."

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