Waspi women call for 'hat-trick of U-turns' amid welfare climbdown
Labour have been forced into making a series of concessions on their welfare reform bill after more than 120 party MPs threatened to rebel against the Government in a vote next week.
As part of the concessions, people who currently receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP), or the health element of Universal Credit, will continue to do so, but planned cuts to these payments will still hit future claimants.
It comes after Labour announced a U-turn on cutting the Winter Fuel Payment, with the vast majority of pensioners in England and Wales now set to receive the benefit.
READ MORE: Scotland reacts as Labour announce 'two-tier' benefits U-turn
The Waspi campaign has now called on Labour to perform a third climbdown and deliver on recommendations from the Parliamentary Ombudsman by handing compensation to 1950s-born women affected by state pension age changes.
Angela Madden, chair of Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi), said: 'Winter fuel and the PIP are but two of Labour's major political mistakes and betrayals.
'Compensation to Waspi women should now make for a hat trick of U-turns.
'The independent Ombudsman's report was clear in endorsing compensation for 1950s women.
"Ministers should stop wasting taxpayers' money fighting us in court and agree to honour that recommendation.'
In March last year, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said women born in the 1950s should be compensated for the Department of Work and Pension's failure to properly communicate state pension age changes.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer suggests he didn't check 'island of strangers' speech
But in December Labour minister Liz Kendall announced they would not be giving women compensation.
Waspi is now seeking a judicial review of the UK Government's decision.
Earlier this week, campaigners hailed a "major" breakthrough in their fight against the UK Government after judges approved a limit on the campaign's liability for DWP legal fees.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has agreed to a costs capping order after what Waspi described as "months of resistance".
The Waspi group said it would have faced a real risk "of financial ruin" had this order not been agreed.
Without the costs cap, Waspi would be liable for paying the UK Government's legal fees – which would be in the hundreds of thousands – should it lose its case.
Earlier this month, senior High Court judge Mr Justice Swift, ruled that the case is 'arguable' and 'ought to be considered at a final hearing', meaning ministers could be ordered to re-think their position on compensation if Waspi wins in court.
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The Sun
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- The Sun
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