PMQs: Dianne Abbott grills Starmer over Waspi women
Diane Abbott has shamed Sir Keir Starmer over the decision to deny compensation to WASPI women.
Speaking during PMQs, the Labour MP asked if the Prime Minister understands how "let down" the group born in the 1950s feel.
Ms Abbott is the latest Labour politician to speak out after the Government announced that financial compensation would not be awarded to women affected by changes in the state pension age.
The Mother of the House said at Prime Minister's Questions: "The WASPI women fought one of the most sustained and passionate campaigns for justice that I can remember, year in, year out.
"We did promise them that we would give them justice. I understand the issue about the cost but does the Prime Minister (Sir Keir Starmer) really understand how let down WASPI women feel today?"
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Labour MP Diane Abbott (Image: ITV)
Sir Keir replied: "I do understand the concern, of course I do."
He added: "The research is clear that 90% of those impacted did know about the change and in those circumstances the taxpayer simply can't afford the burden of tens of billions of pounds of compensation, but I do understand the concern."
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced yesterday that Waspi women would not receive compensation despite Labour previously pledging a ￡58 billion package.
Ms Kendall said: "The Government does not believe paying a flat rate to all women at a cost of up to ￡10.5 billion would be fair or proportionate to taxpayers."
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Plans to increase the state pension age for women between 2010 and 2020 were initially set out in 1995, although this process was speeded up by the coalition government.
Campaigners, led by the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group, argued women affected by the changes were required to rethink their retirement plans at relatively short notice and suffered financial hardship.
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The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found that affected women should have had at least 28 months more individual notice of the changes by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The PHSO also suggested that compensation at level four, ranging between ￡1,000 and ￡2,950, could be appropriate for each of those affected.
But Ms Kendall said the UK Government does not believe paying financial compensation would be "fair or proportionate" to taxpayers.