The UK government has rejected calls for compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age, sparking criticism from opposition figures and advocacy groups. The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign argues that 3.6 million women born during the 1950s were not fully informed about the increase in the pension age necessary to equalise the retirement age for men and women. Senior Labour figures were previously vocal in their support of the campaign, with both the 2017 and 2019 election manifestos pledging compensation. However, a similar pledge was absent from this year’s manifesto.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommended payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950 each in March, but ministers have rejected this proposal, arguing that it could cost up to £10.5bn, which would place too much of a financial burden on taxpayers. The ombudsman has criticised this decision, calling it “extremely rare.” The issue highlights the challenges of transitioning from opposition to government, where practical funding and political compromises may clash with the desired ideals.
The situation is not entirely unusual, as the government has inherited several compensation schemes addressing historical abuses or failures. For example, the Horizon computer system scandal, which wrongly accused 900 sub-postmasters of theft, has already seen payments of around £500m made to over 3,300 claimants, with more likely to follow. The infected blood scandal affected over 30,000 people in the UK, leading to HIV and hepatitis C infections, with the government recently allocating £11.8bn to compensate victims.
Other compensation cases include payments to LGBT military veterans who had been discharged due to their sexuality and to the survivors of nuclear tests carried out by the UK in the 1950s and 60s. While the Labour government has offered up to £70,000 to LGBT veterans in compensation, nuclear veterans wait for increased support from the government as they continue to campaign for recognition and financial redress. Protecting the interests of a broad range of legacy groups presents challenges for any governing party and is a reminder that even after painful decades, affected communities cannot let up pressure until adequate measures are agreed upon and delivered.
Liz Kendall, who held prominent positions in senior Labour leadership following the Waspi campaign, acknowledged in March the importance of working with the group to identify and deliver a fair solution for affected women. But as the campaign continues to prompt calls for redress, the issue will continue to challenge the ability of both major political parties in the UK to build broad, stable electoral coalitions while being sensitive to issues that affect different sections of working-class communities.
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