WASPI women call for vote on State Pension age compensation scheme after MPs support new Bill
Sir Keir Starmer has faced growing Labour calls to establish a compensation scheme for millions of women affected by State Pension age changes after 10 Labour MPs supported a proposed new Bill on Tuesday. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was given permission by MPs to introduce the Women’s State Pension age (Ombudsman report and compensation scheme) Bill to the House of Commons for further consideration by 105 votes to zero, majority 105.
Mr Flynn’s Bill would require ministers to publish measures to address the findings of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) report, which recommended the UK Government pay compensation to women born in the 1950s whose State Pension age was raised so it would be equal with men. The Ombudsman said the women should be paid up to £2,950 each, a package with a potential total cost of £10.5 billion to the public purse, as poor communication meant they had lost out on the chance to plan their retirement finances.
READ MORE: Watchdog slams decision not to compensate WASPI women affected by State Pension changes
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But in December, the UK Government ruled out a compensation package despite the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves being among the senior ministers to support the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign when Labour was in opposition.
The vote was viewed as a symbolic show of support for the compensation proposal as Private Members’ Bills (PMBs) introduced by MPs face a battle to become law if they do not receive UK Government support and fail to secure parliamentary time to clear the necessary stages.
Mr Flynn told the Commons: “This Bill seeks to do the right thing by those people who we made a promise to.”
He read out remarks previously made by Sir Keir and other ministers in support of the WASPI campaign before adding: “This is a defining issue.
“Many of us in the last parliament watched on as a TV show changed the mind of the Government in respect of the Post Office Horizon (scandal). Many of us watched on as Parliament itself forced the Government to change tack when it came to the infected blood scandal.
“Many of us have spoken about the Equitable Life scandal, the Hillsborough disaster, the loan charge debacle and, indeed, the WASPI campaign.
“Defining issues of that last parliament can still be defining issues of this Parliament but only if the Government acts to provide the compensation and redress that these women so badly deserve.”
Following the vote, Angela Madden, Chair of the WASPI campaign, said: “The House of Commons has just voted to compensate WASPI women, ordering ministers to revisit their decision not to draw up a financial redress scheme.
“Labour whips ran scared of a major rebellion and ordered their MPs to abstain. However multiple Labour MPs defied their orders today and voted in favour of compensation. Many more are supportive in principle and not a single MP was prepared to back the Government’s line of ‘no compensation’.
"The Government must now urgently schedule a debate and a proper vote, in Government time, so all Members can have their say.”
Mr Flynn introduced his Bill using the 10-minute rule process. This allowed him up to 10 minutes to make a speech on why he wanted to introduce his PMB.
Such motions are rarely opposed as their approval simply means a Bill has received a first reading, which involves having its title being read out and an order for the Bill to be printed.
Mr Flynn asked for his Bill to be considered further at second reading on March 7.