Furious Labour MPs say they will not again down over WASPI as Keir Starmer hit by backlash

Keir Starmer has been hit by fierce backlash from his own MPs over failure to pay compensation to millions of women who lost out due to changes to the state pension age.

The Prime Minister defended the decision to deny payouts for more than 3.5 million WASPI women – saying taxpayers couldn’t afford to foot the bill. But his own MPs accused him of a “betrayal” of 1950s born-women who weren’t properly informed about a change to the retirement age from 60 to 65.

In March, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said those affected should get urgent payouts of up to £2,995 – with a potential cost of £10.5billion. But the Government rejected the recommendation on Tuesday – despite apologising for the 28-month delay in writing to those affected by the changes.

No10 said it had “no plans” for a vote on the issue. Ombudsman Rebecca Hilsenrath said: “What we don’t expect is for an acknowledgement to be made by a public body that it’s got it wrong but then refuse to make it right for those affected.”

Dozens of Labour MPs publicly supported the WASPI campaign in opposition, including Mr Starmer himself, Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner. The decision to snub payouts blindsided backbenchers, with a number privately expressing alarm.

South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck said she was “shocked and disappointed”, while Normanton and Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett said: “The word ‘betrayal’ (was) repeatedly used by Waspi women to me yesterday. I agree.”

Labour MP Rachael Maskell told The Mirror that there was “a lot of unhappiness” among MPs who felt the party had broken its commitment on the issue. She said: “We must remember that we’re talking about some of the poorest pensioners.

“I just think there’s an expectation that the Labour Party stands by the poor, that’s what we do. Now in Government not to do that, we’ve got to ask what’s the purpose in the Labour Government?”

Labour MP Barry Gardiner told The Mirror: “I was deeply depressed to see the government’s response. All of us who stood alongside the WASPI women in their campaign knew when we supported them, that the costs were substantial.

“Many of us feel the reason for that is because the injustice done to them is substantial. There cannot be a reason now to abandon a solution.”

Jarrow and Gateshead MP Kate Osborne said: “Whilst I understand the mess the Conservatives have left this country in and the dire financial constraints we are now dealing with because of decades of Tory mismanagement – I do not agree that women should once again be left to bear the brunt of Tory failures.”

One MP told the Mirror: “This has done the Labour Party immense harm and it’s no wonder people’s faith and trust in politics and politicians is at such a low point.”

Veteran MP Diane Abbott confronted Mr Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions, saying: “We did promise them that we would give them justice. I understand the issue about the cost but does (he) really understand how let down WASPI women feel today?”

The PM said: “It is a serious issue. It is a complex issue. The research shows that 90% of those impacted knew about the changes that were taking place.

“I am afraid to say the taxpayers simply cannot afford the tens of billions of pounds in compensation when the evidence does show that 90% of those impacted did know about it. That is because of the state of our economy.”

WASPI hit back, saying only nine in 10 only had a “vague awareness” the pension age was rising in the future. Furious campaigners last night(WED) accused the PM of spreading “dangerous misinformation” and said they are taking fresh legal advice.

Angela Madden, who chairs the campaign, said: “This isn’t just misleading; it’s an insult to millions of 1950s-born women who were blindsided by these changes.

“The ombudsman’s findings were based on rigorous evidence showing that 60% of women had no idea their own State Pension age was rising.

“The Government’s attempt to cherry-pick data to suggest otherwise is spreading dangerous misinformation, plain and simple.” In its findings, the ombudsman pointed to DWP findings that 90% of women aged 45 to 54 were aware the state pension was “going to rise in future”.

It also referenced research in 2003/4 which found only 43% knew their state pension age was 65. Labour promised some form of compensation for the Waspi women in its 2017 and 2019 manifestos under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

But it did not make this pledge ahead of this year’s general election.