Compensation for women hit by changes to the state pension age

The news that the Government will reconsider its rejection of compensation for women hit by changes to the state pension age is welcome, but does not provide any guarantees compensation will be delivered.

For years, Liberal Democrats have pushed the Government to fairly compensate WASPI women to reflect the Ombudsman’s recommendations, so this decision is a first step in the right direction.

The Conservative party left our economy in a shambles, but asking wronged pensioners to pay the price of their mismanagement is simply disgraceful, especially during a cost of living crisis.

Years of needless anguish have been inflicted on millions of women - now the Government must work without any further dither and delay to put things right.

My colleague Steve Darling MP, our Work and Pensions Spokesperson, will be leading on this issue for us in Parliament.

My own personal view is that the government should write to every woman potentially affected, asking them whether they were personally disadvantaged by the failure to properly communicate the change in the pension age, in which case the recommended compensation should be paid without further delay or enquiry.