WASPI campaign's DWP compensation fight is far from over as MP backs calls

Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain

An MP backing the WASPI campaign (Women against state pension inequality) has pledged to continue putting pressure on the Government to grant compensation.

Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson, has led fresh calls for a debate and vote on the issue, co-signing a cross-party letter to Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, urging her to take action.

Ms Chamberlain told Express.co.uk: “The Government must come forward with their plan for compensation for Parliament to debate and vote on at the earliest opportunity.

“It is scandalous that the DWP seem so unprepared given the first finding of maladministration almost three years ago.

“I am working with MPs from across the House to use parliamentary processes to force the Government to come forward with a plan for compensation.”

She urged individuals backing the campaign to contact their MPs to voice their support.

The MP for North East Fife said: “I would really encourage people to write to their MPs if they or people they know were impacted by the DWP’s failure to notify people of the changes. Tell us why this compensation matters this to you. We want to listen.”

The WASPI-supporting parliamentarians had some success yesterday (April 16) as the Backbench Business Committee approved calls for a debate on the question of compensation.

WASPI campaigners in action

SNP MP Patricia Gibson presented the application before the committee, claiming it was a “dereliction of duty” that the Government had not even agreed to the principle that compensation should be paid.

She said: “This is an issue that the House has to debate. We cannot allow it to be the case that WASPI women have won the battle but don’t get the spoils of war.

“There’ll be different views across the house as to what that compensation might look like, and that’s all part of the debate.

“But I think the principle for compensation has to be established, and it has to be established quickly, because the longer this report goes unanswered, the more despair is setting in.”

A report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman published last month recommended compensation payments of between £1,000 and £2,950 for the WASPI generation of women.

More than 230,000 people have signed an open letter calling for MPs to get a vote on the question of compensation for those affected.

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