Labour has been warned to “listen to Waspi women” after campaigners confirmed they are pressing ahead with fresh legal action against the Government.
The group said recent local election losses should act as a warning sign for Labour as anger continues to grow over the decision not to offer compensation to women affected by state pension age changes.
Waspi will pursue new legal proceedings against the Government following a second rejection of compensation claims in January.
The group, which represents women affected by how state pension age changes were communicated, instructed lawyers in March to highlight what they describe as “legal errors” in the Government’s handling of the matter.
Ministers were given a fortnight to respond to these concerns.
The renewed legal push follows the rediscovery of a 2007 DWP evaluation that had prompted officials to halt automatic pension forecast letters at the time.
This finding led to a review of the original decision against offering redress, but the Government ultimately maintained its position against payouts.
The campaign group has issued a stark warning to Labour, arguing that recent council election defeats should alarm the party given that Waspi women and their relatives form a substantial voting bloc across marginal seats.
Angela Madden, who chairs the Waspi campaign, said: “The Government has had every opportunity to do the right thing for Waspi women.”
The WASPI campaign group has spent more than ten years fighting for compensation | GETTY
She added: “Instead, they have made a political choice that risks alienating voters in hundreds of marginal seats across the country.”
Ms Madden stated that following Labour’s local election setbacks, “the party now has a clear choice: listen to Waspi women and compensate them fairly, or face the consequences at the next general election.”
She declared: “We will not be ignored, and we will not give up this fight.”
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman previously indicated that payments between £1,000 and £2,950 would be suitable for each woman impacted by the communication failures around state pension changes.
Ms Madden stated that following Labour’s local election setbacks, the party now has a clear choice
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GB NEWSDespite refusing compensation, the Government has acknowledged wrongdoing in how the matter was handled.
A DWP spokesperson said in March: “The Secretary of State set out the Government’s position in his oral statement to Parliament, including acceptance of maladministration and apology to the women affected.”
The department indicated it would concentrate on implementing lessons from the affair rather than providing financial redress.
Despite refusing compensation, the Government has acknowledged wrongdoing in how the matter was handled
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PA“Our focus now is on delivering an action plan to implement lessons learned in how DWP communicates state pension matters going forward,” the spokesperson added.