Andy Burnham has ruled out paying financial compensation to the 'Waspi women' affected by changes to the state pension age, but signalled he is open to offering alternative benefits such as subsidised transport. The Labour leadership hopeful faced backlash after previously indicating support for compensating up to 3.6 million women born in the 1950s, which could cost billions.
A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester mayor clarified that Burnham considers the compensation case closed, following a government decision last year not to pay out despite a 2024 ombudsman ruling. However, he is open to schemes similar to Greater Manchester's model, which provided early access to concessionary travel for affected women within affordability limits.
Burnham had told a Makerfield byelection hustings on Wednesday that he would 'stick by the Waspi women because they deserve some recompense for the unfairness'. He criticised the government for reneging on promises, but the Labour manifesto did not include compensation. The government argues a flat-rate payout would cost up to £10.3bn and would not be fair, as most women were aware of the changes.
Campaigners maintain many women were ill-informed and faced unaffordable retirement plans after the coalition government accelerated the pension age increase from 60 to 66. The Waspi cause has broad support among Labour MPs and the Liberal Democrats.
