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WASPI campaigners have been in action at two party conferences this week with MPs pledging their support for the cause and the fight has been given a double boost from the Lib Dems – and Reform’s Lee Anderson.
The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign group is hoping to secure DWP compensation for 1950s-born women who were not properly informed of the increase to their state pension age, from 60 to 65.
A landmark report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman set out that the women should get payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950, but the Government has yet to decide if there will be compensation.
The campaigners had a stand at the Liberal Democrat party conference in Brighton this week, speaking to around 35 MPs including party leader Ed Davey.
WASPI chair, Angela Madden, said: “We have the absolute support of the Liberal Democrats, which is lovely. Ed Davey came to the stand, he said they fully support our cause for compensation and will do what they can to put pressure on the Government to pay us what the Ombudsman says we are due.”
The campaigners spoke to around 35 Lib Dem MPs including:
- David Chadwick
- Victoria Collins
- Adam Dance
- Tim Farron
- Ian Sollum
- Tom Gordon
- Cameron Thomas
- Rachel Gilmour
- Sarah Gibson
- Sarah Dyke
- Manuelka Perteghella
- Al Pinkerton
- Alex Brewer
- Clive Jones
- Steffan Aquerrone
- Protect Josh
- Olly Glover
- Susan Murray
- Charlie Maynard
- Angus MacDonald
- Daisy Cooper
- Zoe Franklin
- Tessa Munt
- Jess Brown-Fuller
- Roz Savage
- Edward Morello
- Callum Millar
- Lee Dillon
- Danny Chambers
- Williams Forster
- Wendy Chamberlain
- Ed Davey.
The WASPI debate continues to be a key issue, with many of the Lib Dem MPs saying it’s the number one issue that constituents are writing in about.
One of the WASPI co-ordinators, Vicky Horton, attended the Reform UK conference today (September 20), with one of their five MPs, Lee Anderson, pledging his support.
The campaigners will also be out and about at the Labour conference in Liverpool which starts this weekend.
Ms Madden said: “We have some MPs who we know will be keen to see us. It will be interesting to see if any ministerial MPs come along to see us.
“We’re going to have quite a presence outside of the conference as well. People are keen to show the Government how they feel about things.”
The campaigners are also planning to go to some of the union conferences over the coming weeks, and they will be in action outside Parliament on the day of the Autumn Budget.
They also recently had a meeting with pensions minister, Emma Reynolds, to again make the case for compensation and urge for action on the issue.