By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2024-10-30 13:20:00 | Updated at 2024-10-30 15:21:36
3 hours ago
Thousands of Waspi women affected by state pension age changes gathered outside Parliament today, demanding action from the Government over a proposed payout.
The protest coincided with Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Budget speech, which made no commitment to compensating those impacted.
More than three million women born in the 1950s have been affected by substantial increases to their state pension age, leaving many struggling financially.
The demonstration was supported by opposition parties and MPs from across the political spectrum.
Protesters are calling for fair and fast compensation following the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report in March 2024, which recommended ministers to urgently pay compensation of between £1,000 and £2,750.
Despite growing calls for action, ministers have said they are still considering the findings of the Ombudsman's report and have repeatedly refused to set a timeline for response.
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Waspi women are protesting Rachel Reeves's Budget
GETTY / GB NEWS
The campaign reports that nearly 25,000 affected women dying while waiting for a Government response to the injustice.
Angela Madden, the chair of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), said: "Millions of women's retirement plans were thrown into chaos, many suffering extreme financial and mental hardships and this is why we are here today."
She added: "Affected women have been vindicated by the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report, parliament must compensate all affected women, yet months on we're yet to receive an official response from the Labour party."
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, expressed his party's long-standing support for fair and fast compensation for Waspi women.
He urged ministers to "urgently implement the findings of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report without further delay".
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer echoed this sentiment, stating: "The Greens stand firmly behind the millions of 1950s-born women who have suffered injustice and must be urgently compensated."
Both leaders criticised the lack of commitment from the Chancellor in her Budget speech.
Denyer added: "With the Chancellor failing to commit to compensate those affected today, and tens of thousands of pensioners struggling to make ends meet, ministers must urgently set out their plans to compensate those affected."
According to the Waspi campaign, one woman waiting for compensation dies every 13 minutes according to campaigners.
Despite the growing pressure, it is understood that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will make no mention of the issue in her Budget speech.
Prior to today's announcement, Labour have pledged to support pensioners my committing to the triple lock.
However, the Chancellor has received backlash for her decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments for older people.
