Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaigners have publicly challenged Prime Minister Andy Burnham, reminding him of a pledge made 16 weeks ago during his successful Makerfield by-election campaign. The campaign group posted on social media platform X, sharing a photograph of Mr Burnham with campaigners from that period.
The post reads: "Here's Angela, Chair of #WASPI and Janet, one of @andyburnham's constituents meeting him when he started his campaign in Makerfield. He told them WASPI women deserved recompense and promised to meet us. 16 weeks later and we're still waiting. Keep your word, Andy."
Formal correspondence sent in August
The public appeal follows formal correspondence sent in August. WASPI chair Angela Madden wrote directly to Mr Burnham and Chancellor John Healey requesting urgent discussions regarding a financial settlement. In the letter, dated August 4, Ms Madden urged the new government to work alongside campaigners to develop a form of compensation that would be equitable to both the affected 1950s-born women and the taxpayer.
The WASPI campaign represents women born in the 1950s who maintain they were not provided with sufficient or timely notification of sharp rises to their state pension age. The lack of notice meant many lacked adequate time to modify their retirement arrangements, pushing thousands into financial difficulty.
PHSO inquiry findings
A landmark inquiry by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) supported the campaigners, determining that maladministration resulted in a 28-month delay in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) starting to write directly to the women affected. The watchdog determined it would have recommended compensation payments ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 for six sample complainants.
While the previous administration accepted the ombudsman's conclusions and issued an apology, it ultimately declined to establish a wider compensation scheme. To date, the current Labour government has upheld that position, leaving campaigners insisting the Prime Minister honour the "recompense" he acknowledged they are owed.
