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Swinney: Waspi pension decision an 'embarrassment'

Getty Images Women in bright purple clothing stand in a line behind a Waspi campaign sign Getty Images
Waspi campaigners called the UK government's decision an "insult"

The UK government's decision to deny compensation to women affected by changes to the state pension age is a "serious embarrassment" for Scottish Labour, First Minister John Swinney has claimed.

Anas Sarwar's party said it had been hoping for "some form" of compensation for Waspi women, named after campaign group Women Against State Pension Inequality, but added the UK Labour administration had to focus "on fixing the economic mess it inherited".

Waspi says 3.6m women born in the 1950s - including hundreds of thousands in Scotland - were not properly informed of the rise in state pension age to bring them into line with men.

It described the the government's decision as an "insult".

In March, a UK parliamentary ombudsman recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 for women caught out by changes to the pension age made under previous Conservative governments.

Waspi had called for at least £10,000 each.

Although UK Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall apologised for a 28-month delay in sending letters warning of the pension change, she said there was no evidence of "direct financial loss" resulting from the government's decision.

She said the compensation scheme would cost £10.5bn and would not be "fair or proportionate to taxpayers".

'Shameful'

Swinney said: "People in Scotland were promised change, but yet again this Labour government is making the same mistakes as the former Tory government.

"But this is not just a shameful episode for the UK government, it is yet another serious embarrassment for the Labour leadership in Scotland.

"The choice for Scottish Labour, is will they do the right thing and stand up for older people in Scotland or will they stand up for the prime minister?"

Political opponents have pointed to comments made by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during an unsuccessful leadership bid in 2017, when he promised that Waspi women would "receive the justice they deserve" if he led the party.

PA Media Anas Sarwar, wearing a dark suit and purple tie, speaks in front of a red Scottish Labour sign in a medium close-up shot PA Media
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar previously vowed "justice" for Waspi women

Scottish Labour social justice spokesperson Paul O'Kane said: "Many will be disappointed that no compensation is being offered to the thousands of women impacted by the Tory decision to raise their pension age without proper notice.

"Of course the UK government should be focused on fixing the economic mess it inherited, but in recognising this injustice we would hope to have seen a compromise position that would have allowed for some form of compensation for the Waspi women most in need from this long running failure."

The MSP added it was "right that the UK government has recognised the injustice suffered by the Waspi women".

Anne Potter, co-ordinator for Waspi Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire, said she was "totally shocked" by the announcement.

A woman with blonde hair, wearing a maroon jumper and red tartan scarf, looks straight ahead in a close-up shot
Waspi campaigner Anne Potter says women have been let down by the UK government

She told BBC Scotland News that members felt "let down" by the Labour government.

The campaigner, who had previously met Sir Keir Starmer, said the prime minister had "absolutely done nothing for Waspi women".

Liberal Democrat Scottish affairs spokeswoman Christine Jardine MP said: "The new government has turned its back on millions of pension-age women who were wronged through no fault of their own, ignoring the independent ombudsman's recommendations, and that is frankly disgraceful."

Scottish Green social justice spokeswoman Maggie Chapman said the UK government should "hang their heads in shame".