logo
WASPI women clear 'significant hurdle' in bid for court review over pensions

WASPI women clear 'significant hurdle' in bid for court review over pensions

Daily Mirror08-06-2025
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign group has announced it has cleared a significant hurdle in its battle for a High Court challenge.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign group have announced a significant step forward in their fight for a High Court challenge. WASPI is pushing for a judicial review to compel the UK Government to rethink its decision to dismiss a compensation package for women impacted by the way changes to the State Pension age were communicated.
On Friday, the campaigners revealed they've been informed their case is arguable, paving the way for a court hearing. A prior report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) suggested that compensation between £1,000 and £2,950 could be suitable for each affected individual.
However, in December 2024, the UK Government stated that while it accepted the Ombudsman's finding of maladministration and apologised for the delay in contacting women born in the 1950s, a blanket compensation scheme, potentially costing taxpayers up to £10.5 billion, cannot be justified.
In February, WASPI campaigners put forth arguments for a legal case challenging the decision not to compensate women, reports the Daily Record.
The campaigners' lawyers argue that the UK Government's reasons for deciding that people should not receive any remedy violate legal principles. WASPI also anticipates a hearing to consider its application for a costs capping order, ensuring campaigners wouldn't be burdened with unknown costs to cover legal fees if they lose.
Nevertheless, the organisation has warned it may need to withdraw its legal challenge if it lacks this monetary safety net and is appealing for more donations to support the fight. WASPI's chairwoman Angela Madden hailed the go-ahead in their legal battle as a "landmark moment in our campaign".
Speaking out, she remarked: "We are grateful for the funds raised so far and understand the country's purse strings are tight, but the Government cannot be allowed to brush this injustice aside."
Declining to give a detailed opinion due to ongoing proceedings, a spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions stated to PA news agency: "We do not comment on live litigation. We have apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women."
They continued to outline the department's stance: "However, we do not agree with the Ombudsman's approach to injustice or remedy and that is why we have decided not to pay compensation."
This week, WASPI has been proactive by introducing a fresh interactive tool that reveals the level of MP support across the country for a compensation scheme aimed at helping around 3.6 million women impacted by the shift in their state pension age.
Recent data uncovers that 179 MPs have openly criticised the UK Government's refusal to compensate the WASPI women in the past few months. Of these, WASPI points out that 56 Labour MPs have vocally condemned Number 10 for failing to address this injustice, with a considerable number more believed to be silently supportive, including several high-profile ministers.
The map reveals a near-unanimous backing from smaller parties, with a robust coalition of Liberal Democrat, Reform UK, SNP, Green, Plaid Cymru and DUP MPs rallying behind the call to compensate WASPI women. Minor parties are almost entirely in agreement, with a formidable alliance of Liberal Democrat, Reform UK, SNP, Green, Plaid Cymru and DUP MPs endorsing the plea for WASPI women's compensation.
Approximately a dozen Tory MPs have also recently reiterated their support for compensation. These revelations coincide with the launch of WASPI's revamped website, which now includes resources to help supporters pen letters to their MPs and join the campaign for a modest annual fee of £15.
Among the most fervent advocates for WASPI women are members of the State Pension Inequality for Women APPG, led by Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey. This cross-party group of MPs, one of the largest in Parliament, comprises representatives from all major political parties who have pledged to persist in their quest for justice.
However, according to WASPI campaigners, 134 MPs who previously supported calls for compensation have not reaffirmed their stance following the Labour Government's announcement in December.
The data does not account for serving government ministers or whips, at least 80 of whom have previously expressed their support for the campaign. The stances of all MPs on compensation can be found on WASPI's interactive 'state of the nation' map, along with new campaign resources, here.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ed Miliband put up your energy bills – and hoped you wouldn't notice
Ed Miliband put up your energy bills – and hoped you wouldn't notice

The National

time2 hours ago

  • The National

Ed Miliband put up your energy bills – and hoped you wouldn't notice

THE end of term is usually accompanied by hijinks and obnoxious traditions. At my alma mater, that august institution Park Mains High, it was the thing for departing sixth-year pupils to throw fish onto the roof, hire bands to follow teachers around and generally make a nuisance of themselves before going to the beach and getting diabolically mad wae it. Ed Miliband – and the rest of the UK Government – have an entirely different tradition, one even more antisocial than spraying a French class with Silly String and drinking WKD in the rain. He decided to see off the year as is custom in the House of Commons – by sneaking out some bad news under the wire, hoping that no one would notice. Miliband took the last day of term before MPs knocked off for a six-week-long holiday – sorry, I mean 'working in the constituency' – to let slip that he was putting up your energy bills. (Image: Mike Page) This is to pay for the ballooning cost of the Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk. Incidentally, another thing that the Energy Secretary let out the bag on Tuesday was that the cost of this had almost doubled to £38 billion. That is regrettable but Miliband did not want us to get too down about it. The UK Government expects that it will be 'limited to an average of around £1 a month on a typical household bill'. Given the way that energy bills have gone in recent years, I doubt that anyone feels anything less than seething resentment at paying even another penny. READ MORE: The National's front page as Donald Trump set to arrive in Scotland Not to worry though, Miliband's statement to the Commons reassures us: 'This is a good deal for consumers, as demonstrated by the value for money assessment that will be published today.' Well, that's alright then. In virtually the same breath, value-for-money whizz Miliband tells us that the UK Government is the biggest equity stakeholder in Sizewell C, with La Caisse taking a 20% stake, Centrica 15%, EDF 12.5%, and Amber Infrastructure Ltd initially 7.6%. I think it unlikely their interest derives chiefly from their beneficence. This is a classic tactic by governments. Slip out some politically sensitive news on the last day before one of Parliament's absurdly long recesses – your regular reminder that MPs are paid £93,904 per annum, plus expenses – and hope that no one notices. On the same day, the Government also told us – through written statements only checked by journalists and wonks – that it would use artificial intelligence, yes, the same thing that has told people to put glue on pizzas and praised Adolf Hitler – to check the age of asylum seekers. And they disclosed that the Government's official target to spend 0.7% of gross national income on foreign aid had been missed. This last was the least surprising, given that Keir Starmer had previously announced the budget was being raided to pay for more bombs. But don't forget just how politically sensitive this issue is; the Prime Minister's announcement earlier this year triggered the resignation of Anneliese Dodds from her position as international development minister. These stories may fade into the ether of the summer or they could come back when parliamentary scrutiny resumes at the beginning of September. But we felt it important to give you a reminder; we never like letting them get away with it. You can get the Worst of Westminster delivered straight to your email inbox every Friday at 6pm for FREE by clicking here. –

UK economy assessments should be cut to one a year, IMF suggests
UK economy assessments should be cut to one a year, IMF suggests

BBC News

time6 hours ago

  • BBC News

UK economy assessments should be cut to one a year, IMF suggests

The UK government's finances should be assessed only once a year to avoid "overly frequent" changes to policy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suggested. At the moment, the government's independent forecaster - the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - has to produce two forecasts a year for the economy and public finances, and to assess if the government is on course to meet its limits on year changes in its forecast for the economy, driven by rises in global and domestic government borrowing rates, led to Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing £5bn in health-related welfare the cuts were then reversed after a Labour backbench revolt last month. The influential IMF, as part of its annual health check of the UK economy, said the best solution would be for the government to allow greater room for manoeuvre around its financial targets, "so that small changes in the outlook do not compromise assessments of rule compliance". The advice, if followed, could mean more tax rises than expected at the Budget in Autumn, as the chancellor rebuilds a bigger financial buffer to deal with a volatile global government is considering a change that would help support its move to there being a single Budget every year, a move which was designed to increase policy stability. The Institute for Fiscal Studies recently recommended downplaying the Spring Statement with a looser borrowing target, to prevent the need for constant fiddling of tax and spend chancellor is following two main rules for government finances, which she has repeatedly said are "non-negotiable". They are: day-to-day government costs to be paid for by tax income, rather than borrowingdebt to be falling as a share of national income by the end of this parliament in 2029-30The IMF, in general, praised the UK economy and recent "bold agenda" of pro-growth reforms, saying its medium-term borrowing plans were "credible" and that the UK's trade deals meant it was well placed to ride out current global suggested that should economic shocks materialise, the government should consider replacing the state pension triple lock, widening the applicability of VAT, means-testing more benefits, and co-payments for richer users of the to the IMF's report, Reeves said: "Today's IMF report confirms that the choices we've taken have ensured Britain's economic recovery is underway, and that our plans will tackle the deep-rooted economic challenges that we inherited in the face of global headwinds."Our fiscal rules allow us to confront those challenges by investing in Britain's renewal."

Extra £3.45 million awarded to study into possible upgrades to key Dumfries and Galloway road
Extra £3.45 million awarded to study into possible upgrades to key Dumfries and Galloway road

Daily Record

time10 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Extra £3.45 million awarded to study into possible upgrades to key Dumfries and Galloway road

The UK Government has allocated the cash to a project looking into bypassing the A75 around Springholm and Crocketford. An extra £3.45 million is to be put into investigating upgrades to the A75. ‌ The UK Government has allocated the cash to a study looking into bypassing Springholm and Crocketford. ‌ The new funding is part of a £66 million package Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced to improve transport links in the west of Scotland. ‌ She said: 'We're pledging billions to back Scottish jobs, industry and renewal - that's why we're investing in the major transport projects, including exploring upgrades to the A75, that local communities have been calling for. 'Whilst previous governments oversaw over a decade of decline of our transport infrastructure, we're investing in Britain's renewal. This £66 million investment is exactly what our Plan for Change is about, investing in what matters to you in the places that you live.' The need to upgrade the A75 was identified in the Scottish Government's second Strategic Transport Projects Review and the UK Government's Union Connectivity Review. ‌ Despite roads devolved to the Scottish Government, in 2022, the then Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced £5 million for a feasibility study into bypassing Springholm and Crocketford. That was increased to £8 million by Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 2023 – but after Labour won last year's General Election, the amount allocated was reduced to 'up to £5 million'. The aaward of an extra £3.45 million now takes the total for the study to a potential £8.45 million. ‌ Scotland Secretary, Ian Murray, said: 'This £66 million investment in Scotland's roads demonstrates the UK Government's commitment to improving infrastructure and driving economic growth in all parts of the UK as part of our Plan for Change. This investment will make a real difference to people's daily lives and to the local economies of the south of Scotland, Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. 'The A75 is strategically important just not within but beyond Scotland. Its upgrading is long overdue. I am pleased that the UK Government has stepped up to fund the delivery of the A75 feasibility study in full. 'This investment is yet another example of how the UK Government is building the foundations for a stronger, more prosperous future that benefits communities right across Scotland.' While the UK Government is funding the study, work to upgrade the road will come from Holyrood. The Scottish Government appointed technical advisors to work on plans for upgrades last year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store