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Waspi decision 'clear injustice' - Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham tells BBC Radio Manchester the government is "wrong" to deny Waspi women a payout

Greater Manchester's Labour mayor Andy Burnham has said the government's decision to reject calls for compensation for women impacted by changes to the state pension was a "clear injustice".

Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester, he said he could not defend his party's decision, which was made despite a years-long campaign by the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group.

About 3.6 million women were affected by the 1995 decision to increase the pension age to 65.

Burnham said: "Many of us supported the Waspi women in opposition, to me you've got to follow through on that and honour what was said."

He added: "I believe this is a wrong decision…I think it should be looked at again."

But, Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the decision this week, saying the taxpayer "simply can't afford the tens of billions of pounds" in payments.

The Waspi group said those affected were not properly informed of the rise in state pension age to bring them into line with men.

PA Media A group of older women wear purple and smile at a demonstration. They are holding signs and a purple banner that reads 'WASPI' PA Media
The Waspi group is calling for women impacted by the changes to be compensated

In 1995, the government increased the pension age for women from 60 to 65, phasing in the change between 2010 and 2020.

The coalition government of 2010 opted to speed up the process, bringing forward the qualifying age of 65 to 2018.

The Waspi group said many of the affected women had made financial plans based on the old state pension age and some retired before realising they could not claim their pension.

It previously called for impacted women to be paid up to £10,000 each in compensation.

An independent government review in March recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 for each of those affected.

Burnham said: "That was a report that all political parties should have accepted and acted upon."

Starmer said the Treasury could not afford to pay out compensation, with Labour ministers warning the total cost could have risen to more than £10bn.

He added that "90% of those impacted knew about the changes that were taking place".

But Burnham said the compensation "doesn't have to be paid all at once", and could be done through a "top up of the pension for a few years".

The BBC has contacted the government for further response.

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