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 had previously indicated support for compensating the 3.6 million women born in the 1950s, but his office clarified on Thursday that he considers the compensation case closed.
A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester mayor said Burnham had intended to explore other gestures, citing the city-region's model of early access to concessionary travel. “He accepts the final decision has been made in relation to financial compensation but has indicated an openness to considering similar schemes,” the spokesperson told the Financial Times.
The comments follow a backlash over the potential multibillion-pound cost of full compensation. The government has said a flat-rate scheme would cost up to £10.3bn and would not be “right or fair” given most women were aware of the pension age changes. The parliamentary and health service ombudsman ruled in March 2024 that compensation was warranted, but ministers rejected that finding last year.
Burnham, who is seeking to return to Westminster via the Makerfield byelection, criticised the government for appearing to renege on promises. “I stick by the campaigns that I support... I’ll stick by the Waspi women because they deserve some recompense for the unfairness,” he said at a hustings event, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The Waspi campaign argues that many women did not receive adequate notification of the pension age increase from 60 to 65 and then to 66, leaving them with unaffordable retirement plans. The cause has been backed by numerous Labour MPs and the Liberal Democrats, but the party excluded compensation from its manifesto.
