DWP explains 'real reason' for rejecting WASPI compensation worth £2,950

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has explained the REAL reason Waspi women will not be compensated. A minister says flat-rate compensation scheme for women affected by rising state pension age would have cost taxpayer £10.5bn.

Keir Starmer was asked about the issue in Estonia, after the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, told MPs she was rejecting the parliamentary and health service ombudsman’s recommendation for compensation to be paid.

The chair of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign, Angela Madden, responded with fury to the government’s decision. “This is a bizarre and totally unjustified move which will leave everyone asking what the point of an ombudsman is if ministers can simply ignore their decisions," she fumed.

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"It feels like a decision that would make the likes of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump blush,” she said. Ms Kendall rejected the Ombudsman recommendation for a flat-rate compensation scheme, paying out £1,000 to £2,950 to the more than 3 million women affected.

“Given the vast majority of women knew the state pension age was increasing, the government does not believe paying a flat rate to all women at a cost of up to £10.5bn would be fair or proportionate to taxpayers,” Ms Kendall told MPs.

Asked about the issue in an interview with broadcasters, Sir Keir Starmer - the leader of the Labour Party government - said: “I do understand, of course, the concern of the Waspi women. But also I have to take into account whether it’s right at the moment to impose a further burden on the taxpayer, which is what it would be.”

The Liberal Democrats ’ work and pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling, called the decision a “day of shame” for Labour. “The new government has turned its back on millions of pension-age women who were wronged through no fault of their own, ignoring the independent ombudsman’s recommendations, and that is frankly disgraceful,” he said.