“Hopes dashed as ‘Waspi women’ again denied state pension compensation” headlined the Guardian. Around 3.6 million “Waspi women” born in the 1950s who lost out because of government failings in the way changes to the state pension age were made,  have been “shamefully denied”, campaigners say.

In November last year, just weeks before a high court legal challenge was due to begin, the women affected were given fresh hope that they might receive compensation. Yesterday, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden announced that after reviewing the evidence, the government had again decided against compensation.

Angela Madden, the chair of Waspi, said: “Ministers have demonstrated their utter contempt for 1950s-born women, for Parliament and for the Parliamentary Ombudsman.” The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman ruled in 2021that the British state was guilty of “maladministration” and proposed modest reparations. Their proposals were not binding, but it is unusual for them not to be accepted.

A year ago Angela Madden said the decision to ignore the clear recommendations of an independent watchdog was  “unprecedented” and a “bizarre and totally unjustified move.” She was right.

The Independent called yesterday’s decision a “stinging betrayal”. It outlined two objections to the government’s stance: “The first is the substance of it – it is neither morally nor legally defensible. The second is the manner of it – raising and then dashing hopes in an almost callous manner.”

The decision is another abrupt U-turn by Keir Starmer, who, when Leader of the Opposition, posed alongside Waspi women and signed a pledge for fair and fast compensation.

Reaction to yesterday’s announcement was one of overwhelming anger – not least from Labour MPs. Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne called the decision “yest another sell-out and deep betrayal”. Calling the decision “indefensible”, he said he was “profoundly sorry for the thousands of 1950s-born women in my constituency who voted for a Labour government in the belief that they would right this wrong.”

Former Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey MP called the decision “frankly wrong”. She said: “The Ombudsman was clear: maladministration occurred, there was injustice and compensation should be paid. Ignoring that advice is plain wrong. Lives were devastated and justice means engagement and fair redress.” She spoke of women whose lives had been destroyed – “and today they are not just devastated; they feel gaslit.”

Kim Johnson MP called the government position “nothing less than blatant contempt.” Nadia Whittome MP said it was “beyond disappointing”. Former Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon MP called the decision “totally wrong”, adding: “I’ll keep fighting until justice is done. We will not give up.”

Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP concluded: “Another day, another sell out.” He told the Independent: “The government shouldn’t underestimate the anger there will be amongst large numbers of women who will feel betrayed. The refusal to accept the ombudsman’s findings of the injustice these women suffer, and adopt even the Ombudsman’s moderate proposals, will be seen as an appalling snub to women.”

Former Shadow Employment Secretary Andy McDonald MP called it a very bitter pill to swallow. Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP said she was “very disappointed.” Brian Leishman MP said it was a “shameful day” and pledged his full support for the campaign. Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan said the decision was wrong, pointing out that Labour had supported the campaign in Opposition. Chris Hinchcliff MP agreed.

Clive Lewis MP said: “For years, I and many of the ministers now in government stood on platforms with these women and campaigned alongside them for justice. To walk away now is a serious betrayal.”

He added: “This is not an isolated failure. The treatment of WASPI women fits a wider and deeply troubling pattern in the way the British state and political class deal with ordinary people. From the Horizon scandal, to infected blood, to Windrush, we see the same story repeated: delay, denial, and a lack of urgency when working people are wronged.”

Jon Trickett MP said the decision was “badly wrong”, and that it  broke trust. He pointed out that there are 124 Labour seats where the majority is smaller than the number of Waspi women. There are 4,400 Waspi households in the upcoming Gorton and Denton byelection alone – where Labour, who hold the seat, are currently polling third.

Newly elected UNISON General Secretary Andrea Egan said the decision deepened injustice and called on ministers to rethink it.

Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/plaidcymru/47470519271 55458216_10161316131275618_7817541980023422976_o | Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales | Flickr Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed