I have previously supported efforts to find some form of recompense for WASPI women, though admittedly I had not come to any firm conclusion as to what this would look like and I do accept there are significant costs some of which would be given to women that themselves would say they knew about their changed pension age. A bespoke scheme would also be challenging to implement. But I agree that the Ombudsman was clear there has been maladministration and there should be a serious attempt to address that at least in some way.
What I am deeply deeply shocked by is the sheer hypocrisy of this Labour government including the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Work and Pensions Secretary. They all knew the challenges as I have described them. Where I have always been careful not to over promise to campaigns I have supported, they promised unconditional support to the WASPI campaign over many years. Clearly they voiced their support only to win votes and had no intention of keeping the pledges they made to WASPI women.
There are 3.8 million women of pension age impacted by this announcement, all the while an additional 10 million pensioners, including 1.6 million disabled people, have lost their Winter Fuel Allowance this winter.
I am focussed on lobbying the Labour Government to reverse their decision on the Winter Fuel Allowance, which would go some way to quickly compensating for the anxiety many pensioners and WASPI women currently feel.
I share the frustration of WASPI women and I encourage people to never forget how Labour took advantage of them for their own political ends.
Kieran