Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaigners are escalating their fight for compensation after historic changes to the state pension age left millions of women born in the 1950s financially disadvantaged. The group has threatened legal action against the Labour Government, accusing ministers of ignoring their demands for a £10 billion compensation package.
The controversy stems from changes to the state pension age, which were first announced in 1995 and later accelerated under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government. These changes raised the retirement age for women from 60 to 65, and eventually to 66, to align it with the retirement age for men. However, many women claim they were not adequately informed about the changes, leaving them little time to adjust their retirement plans.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had committed “maladministration” by failing to properly communicate the changes. Despite this, the Labour Government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, ruled out any compensation package in December 2024. Starmer acknowledged the concerns but argued that 90% of those affected were aware of the changes, and the taxpayer could not bear the burden of tens of billions of pounds in compensation.
Angela Madden, chair of the Waspi campaign, criticized the Government’s stance, accusing it of “gaslighting” the affected women. She stated, “The Government has accepted that 1950s-born women are victims of maladministration, but it now says none of us suffered any injustice. We believe this is not only an outrage but legally wrong.” Madden emphasized that the campaigners would not back down and are prepared to take legal action to secure justice.
To fund their legal battle, the Waspi campaign has launched a £75,000 CrowdJustice fundraising effort. Madden expressed confidence in their cause, noting that they had succeeded in previous legal challenges and were determined to do so again. She called on the Government to “come to the table to sort out a compensation package.”
The Labour Government’s position has drawn criticism, particularly given that several senior ministers, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, previously supported the Waspi campaign while in opposition. Labour MP Brian Leishman, who backed an SNP bill urging action on the ombudsman’s findings, warned that failing to address the issue could harm the party’s credibility. He cautioned that the next government could be a “hardline far-right effort” if Labour did not deliver on improving living standards.
A Government spokesperson responded to the campaign’s threats, reiterating that while they accepted the ombudsman’s finding of maladministration and apologized for the 28-month delay in notifying women about the changes, they could not justify the £10.5 billion compensation cost. The spokesperson argued that evidence showed 90% of women born in the 1950s were aware of the changes by 2006, and earlier notifications would not have altered this awareness.
The Waspi campaign continues to fight for the 3.6 million women affected by the pension age changes, arguing that the lack of proper communication caused significant financial hardship. As the standoff between the campaigners and the Government intensifies, the issue remains a contentious topic, with many calling for a fair resolution for the women who feel they have been unfairly treated.
