WASPI campaigners now 'hugely disappointed' after feeling 'movement' with DWP over compensation
24.05.2024 - 17:29
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaigners have been delivered a blow to their drive for compensation, with the progress of recent weeks now "defunct", following Rishi Sunak's announcement of a July 4 general election.
The campaign, which seeks financial redress for 3.6 million women born in the 1950s who were not properly notified of changes to the state pension age, had a promising meeting with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Minister Mel Stride and a compensation bill beginning its journey through parliament - but this has now been scrapped.
With just two days to wrap up outstanding legislation, the majority of parliamentary business has now been dropped, with just compensation for victims of the Post Office and infected blood scandals squeaking through. “It almost certainly means there will be more delay for compensation”, the coalition-era DWP minister Steve Webb told MoneyWeek.
READ MORE: Martin Lewis says 'it is a nonsense' as energy bills to fall by £122 this summer
The Liberal Democrat MP continued: “WASPI compensation will be on the slow track. I think that the political pressure for a swift resolution is likely to be much lower after people have voted.”
This is a bitter blow to the WASPI campaign, which was gaining steam following the publication of an ombudsman's report, recommending compensation of up to £2,950 for women affected by state pension inequality. However, WASPI estimates for financial redress have asked for up to £10,000.
WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden told the Express that Mr Sunak was taking a “huge gamble” calling a general election with no plan for compensation She said: "It’s hugely disappointing. We have worked so hard in the two months since the report was