SNP deputy leader slams Labour government's 'betrayal of pensioners' after rejecting compensation for WASPI women

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The Labour government has been slammed for its “betrayal of pensioners” after it was revealed that WASPI women will not receive any compensation.

Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown – deputy leader of the SNP – hit out after Labour Work and Pension Secretary Liz Kendall announced that around 3.5 million women born in the 1950s – who campaigners say were not properly informed of the rise to the state pension age – will not be given any sort of financial payout.

Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), a voluntary organisation founded in 2015, campaigns against the way in which the state pension age for men and women was equalised and have called for the millions of women affected by the change to receive compensation.

Ms Kendall told the Commons: “The Government does not believe paying a flat rate to all women at a cost of up to £10.5 billion would be fair or proportionate to taxpayers.”

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Responding to the announcement, Mr Brown said: “This is Labour’s second betrayal of pensioners since they got into power and it’s shameful.

“The announcement by the Work and Pensions secretary is wrong in at least two ways. It’s wrong because it rejects the recommendation from the Ombudman’s report and it’s wrong because it goes against the promises that Labour candidates made to voters during the general election.

“If the Labour MPs who represent my Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituents in the UK Parliament do not speak up against their party’s position then they can rest assured that it will come back to sting them. WASPI women have been campaigning too long and too hard to let Labour and the UK Government off the hook now.”

Meanwhile, Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed said that she was "utterly appalled" over what she branded a "morally repugnant decision".

She posted on her social media pages: "Labour have repeatedly campaigned to address the campaign for justice for the WASPI women but, when push comes to shove, they refuse to do the right thing.

"Not only are they completely ignoring the independent watchdog's recommendations but they are yet again choosing to target pensioners who have experienced a serious injustice at the hands of the state."

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