A Wigan campaigner for the WASPI movement has praised Labour candidate Andy Burnham as a 'decent bloke' following confusion over remarks made during the Makerfield by-election that could imply a commitment to over £10bn in spending.
At a hustings event hosted by the Manchester Evening News at Winstanley College on June 10, Jan Fulster, a WASPI campaigner, asked Mr Burnham about his stance on the issue. He responded: 'I have long supported the campaign and I feel uncomfortable when politicians were all holding up that banner and then got into government and didn't do anything. I stick by the campaigns that I support. I stuck by the Hillsborough families and I will stick by the WASPI women because they deserve some recompense for the unfairness.'
The comments were welcomed by the campaign, with members describing them as 'hugely refreshing'. However, they sparked speculation about whether Mr Burnham was committing to billions of pounds in compensation if he wins the by-election on June 18 and eventually becomes Prime Minister.
While Labour was in opposition, senior figures including Sir Keir Starmer backed the campaign, which argues that the way the State Pension age increase was communicated was unfair. The compensation bill could exceed £10bn, but the government has consistently refused demands, most recently in January this year.
Following a reported backlash among some Labour MPs, a spokesperson for Mr Burnham issued a further statement clarifying his position. They said: 'Andy has always recognised the unfair way in which state pension equalisation was introduced. As mayor of Greater Manchester, he supported WASPI women in the city-region with early access to concessionary travel, providing some recompense to them within affordability limits. He accepts the final decision has been made in relation to financial compensation but has indicated an openness to considering similar schemes on the Greater Manchester model.'
Mrs Fulster, who lives in the Hawkley Hall area, said: 'He went further than he had done when I saw him at the campaign launch. I met him with Angela Madden, who is chair of the WASPI campaign. Then he said he had never turned his back on a campaign he supported, which I think to be true.' She added: 'He stood by us every step of the way and did what he could as Mayor. He obviously tried to help older people with the bus pass. He had tried to do what he could. I like him. He is a decent bloke.'
While some interpreted the campaign's latest statement as a step back from endorsing the campaign, Mrs Fulster recalled her first meeting with Mr Burnham at a party conference in Liverpool: 'He looked me straight in the eye and said, 'You know I have been behind you from the beginning, I have never stepped back from a cause I stood by and I will try to look at it.' I never believed he would be the one who would stand there with a placard and turn his back on us. At this stage a week before the election, it's not something that he must do. The fact he has given us a mention and acknowledged his position before and what he has tried to do as Mayor of Greater Manchester says a lot about the man.'
Mrs Fulster noted that Mr Burnham was 'staying within his remit at this moment in time', adding: 'The fact he is prepared to put his hand up and say yes I will look at this even if the finances aren't there. To me it's honesty and integrity.'
The candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election, in alphabetical order as listed by the local authority, are: Jake Austin (Liberal Democrats), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Andy Burnham (Labour and Co-operative Party), Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party), John Dyer (Independent), Ed Gemmell (Climate Party), Paul Gould (Independent), Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Rob Kenyon (Reform UK), Robert Pownall (Independent), Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain), Sarah Wakefield (Green Party), Peter Ward (Rejoin EU Bring in PR), and Michael Winstanley (Conservative Party).
