Women from around the South, including Portsmouth, Southampton, Eastleigh, the New Forest and the Isle of Wight, were among those from all around the country who travelled to Westminster to protest on Budget Day (Wednesday, 30th October).
Members of Solent and Isle of Wight Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) joined others in Parliament Square at the ‘WASPI Can’t Wait – Compensate!” demo.
Urging swift action
They were there urging swift action on a report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) that women born in the 1950s suffered injustice due to the Department for Work and Pensions’ failure to communicate life-impacting changes to their State Pension age, and should be compensated.
The report was issued in March, but they are still waiting.
Pots, pans and whistles
Armed with pots, pans and whistles, they made their presence felt during Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ speech.
She announced compensation for victims of other injustices but failed to mention the WASPI case.
Simmons: We were hoping a Labour Government would move more quickly
Solent WASPI Coordinator, Shelagh Simmons, said,
“We very much welcome the news on compensation for victims of the Infected Blood and Post Office scandals. But we are disappointed nothing was said about us, despite clear recommendations from the Government’s own watchdog.”
“They were fully supportive in Opposition, so we were hoping a Labour Government would move more quickly. The PHSO considered the issue for six years and came to a clear conclusion. Yet all these months later, Ministers say they need to give it “full consideration”.”
It has been estimated that nearly 300,000 affected women have died since the campaign started nine years ago, 25,000 since the Ombudsman’s report was published in March. A minute’s silence was held for them on Wednesday.
Minister says they’re not going to ‘kick this into the long grass’
Shelagh Simmons continued,
“Emma Reynolds rightly points out that she is the first Pensions Minister to meet with WASPI. She says they are not going to ‘kick this into the long grass’.
“And Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, states they are working on this ‘at pace’. These are positive statements, but we don’t need nebulous phrases, we need concrete action. Time is not on our side, so this is urgent.”
Madden: Parliament must compensate all affected women
WASPI Chair, Angela Madden, said,
“Millions of women’s retirement plans were thrown into chaos, many suffering extreme financial and mental hardships and this is why we are here today.
“Affected women have been vindicated by the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s report.
“Parliament must compensate all affected women.”
Local MPs showing support for their WASPI constituents were Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat, Eastleigh) and Sir Julian Lewis (Conservative, New Forest East).
Simmons: Ministers must deliver
Shelagh Simmons concluded,
“There are hundreds of MPs from across the House, including our Solent region, backing fair and fast compensation.
“On Wednesday, our presence showed the strength of feeling there is that this injustice must be remedied.
“Now Ministers must deliver.”
Visit the WASPI website for more information.
News shared by Shelagh on behalf of Solent WASPI. Ed
