Andy Burnham is facing fresh demands from cross-party MPs to compensate women affected by an increase in the state pension age “as soon as possible”. MPs from 10 parties have sent a letter to the Prime Minister calling on him to set out plans for payouts for women born in the 1950s.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign group argues they were negatively affected by the way changes to the state pension were communicated.
Letter led by Labour and Tory MPs
The letter was led by Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, who is co-chair of the State Pension Inequality for Women All-Party Parliamentary Group, and veteran Tory MP Sir John Hayes. Other signatories include Lib Dem Work and Pensions spokesperson Steve Darling, alongside the Westminster leaders of the SNP, DUP, Green Party, SDLP, Your Party, Alliance and UUP.
WASPI chair Angela Madden said: “Andy met us during the Makerfield by-election and committed to sitting down with WASPI to discuss fair redress. We are confident he will make good on this commitment.
“Hundreds of MPs are backing the campaign for compensation and the public clearly want to see this resolved too. WASPI has always said we are ready to work pragmatically with the Government on a solution that is fair to WASPI women and the taxpayer. We now need the Prime Minister to sit down with us and turn those words into action.”
Politicians unite on redress
Ms Long-Bailey said: “WASPI women have waited for far too long for justice, and this issue is not going away. With politicians from all corners of the political spectrum coming together on this issue, the message is clear: 1950s-born women deserve a fair outcome.
“The Prime Minister has stood with these women for many years. His commitment to meet campaigners is very welcome and I hope it marks the beginning of a route towards the redress they deserve.”
Mr Darling added: “For too long, successive governments have denied these women the justice the Parliamentary Ombudsman concluded they are due. The Prime Minister's commitment to sit down with campaigners to discuss redress is a welcome step, but warm words are not enough. He must now set out plans for compensation this autumn and finally bring this long-running injustice to an end.”
Previous stance and public support
When he was Greater Manchester Mayor, Mr Burnham said the Government’s decision to reject compensation for women impacted by changes to the state pension age was a “clear injustice”. But shortly before entering 10 Downing Street, he ruled out payouts for those affected, which would cost billions of pounds.
It comes after polling by Stack Data Strategy of more than 10,000 people shows almost half - 47% - support compensation, compared to just 13% who do not.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “The Secretary of State set out the Government’s position in his oral statement to Parliament, including acceptance of maladministration and apology to the women affected. Our focus now is on delivering an action plan to implement lessons learned in how DWP communicates State Pension matters going forward.”
