Waspi women latest: Starmer faces growing Labour rebellion after ‘breaking promise’ on pensions compensation
Starmer’s Labour was accused of broken promises at PMQs over its decision not to pay compensation to 3.8 million Waspi women
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Your support makes all the difference.Keir Starmer faces a growing Labour rebellion after being accused of breaking a promise in a decision not to compensate Waspi women.
Up to 50 Labour MPs would vote against the government’s decision to rule out spending £10bn compensating the women if a vote is held, The Independent understands.
Waspi refers to a woman born between 1950 and 1960 who was disadvantaged by the 1995 Pensions Act, which increased their pensionable age from 60 to 65.
The group - Women Against State Pension Inequality - was set up in 2015 to campaign for compensation over the Act.
On Wednesday, Downing Street said there were no plans for a vote on the issue. However, the Lib Dems are calling for a vote. If denied, the party could hold a backbench debate or opposition day.
It comes after Mother of the House Diane Abbott accused the Labour government of breaking a previous promise to compensate the Waspi women.
“We did promise them that we would give them justice,” Ms Abbott said. “I understand the issue about the cost, but does the prime minister really understand how let down Waspi women feel today?”
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Cabinet minister hints at ‘strong set’ of new Labour peers
A Cabinet minister has hinted that a “strong set” of Labour peers could be appointed to boost the party’s representation in the House of Lords.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was asked whether former Downing Street chief of staff Sue Gray could return as a minister amid reports she may be among a raft of new Labour peers to be appointed.
“Decisions about Government are for the Prime Minister, not for me, but I would be really pleased - speculation at this stage - to see a really strong set of people come into the House of Lords to help the Government deliver on its agenda,” Mr Reynolds told broadcasters.
Sue Gray could be among 30 new Labour peers to be appointed on Thursday, The Sun reported.
Starmer meets Sultan of Brunei
Sir Keir Starmer praised the “strong relationship” between the UK and Brunei as he met Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at Downing Street.
The Prime Minister greeted the Sultan of Brunei at the door of No 10 and then held a meeting with him in the White Room.
Sir Keir praised the “strong relationship” between the two countries in remarks at the start of the meeting, and said he and the sultan would talk about the renewal of the garrison agreement as well as wider issues of trade and security.
The UK has a permanent army garrison in Brunei under a deal that is renewed every five years and now up for renegotiation.
Starmer to face grilling from senior MPs
Sir Keir Starmer will face an end-of-term grilling from senior MPs on Thursday after an opening few months in office which have seen Labour’s poll ratings plummet.
The Prime Minister will take questions from the Liaison Committee for the first time since being elected in July.
The panel is made up of the chairs of Commons select committees, and Sir Keir will face questions across a range of Government departments.
Among the members of the committee are former Conservative cabinet minister Steve Barclay, and chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tories Bob Blackman.
Starmer faces growing Labour rebellion
Keir Starmer faces a growing Labour rebellion after being accused of breaking a promise to compensate Waspi women.
Up to 50 Labour MPs could vote against the government’s decision to rule out spending £10bn compensating the women, The Independent understands.
Waspi refers to a woman born between 1950 and 1960 who was disadvantaged by the 1995 Pensions Act, which increased their pensionable age from 60 to 65.
Starmer urged to give MPs the chance to vote on Waspi decision
At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Independent MP Ian Byrne asked Sir Keir Starmer to “give members the opportunity to vote on whether they believe Waspi women are owed compensation”.
A newly-elected MP is also among those calling for ministers to reconsider the decision.
Brian Leishman, who has represented Alloa and Grangemouth since July, told Sky News that the Government “really should deliver” on the compensation.
Mr Leishman said he was “shocked” and “disappointed” by the decision.
“This is a historical injustice that Waspi women have faced. We campaigned in opposition to correct that injustice, and now that we’re in power we really should deliver on that,” he said.
Mr Leishman said there is “a lot of disappointment and a lot of frustration” among colleagues, and said he would “completely endorse” Mr Byrne’s calls for a vote.
It is understood that the Liberal Democrats could consider means such as an opposition day or backbench debate if the Government chooses not to hold a vote.
On Wednesday, Downing Street said there were “no plans” for a vote on the issue.
All of Starmer’s ‘betrayals’ and U-turns as Labour faces Waspi women backlash
All of Starmer’s ‘betrayals’ and U-turns as Labour faces Waspi women backlash
The Independent looks at all the times Sir Keir Starmer has let voters down or outright U-turned on his promises on the journey from Labour leader to prime minister
Scottish Labour leader ‘deeply disappointed’ by Waspi decision
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he was “deeply disappointed” by the “blanket” decision to not award compensation, and thinks that ministers “could have found a way forward”.
Speaking to STV News, Mr Sarwar said: “I can completely understand, and I believe I was one of the ones that campaigned with them, had photographs with them, I was right to do that, I was right to campaign with them.
“I continue to stand with them in the face of their injustice. I think where there is justified frustration is in the blanket no compensation position.”
He later added: “I think a blanket no compensation position is the wrong one and I’m deeply disappointed by that.
“I think we could have found a way forward that recognised the difficult public finances, that recognised the difficult inheritance.”
Waspi women’s fury as Starmer says they knew about pension change
Waspi women’s fury as Starmer says they knew about pension change
Waspi women are furious with Keir Starmer after PM appeared to blame them for his broken promise
Starmer faces pressure from own party over Waspi decision
Sir Keir Starmer is facing upset from his own party over the Government’s decision to not award compensation to Waspi women.
A former shadow employment minister is among those urging the Prime Minister to “reconsider” the decision, while another senior MP said that a lot of MPs are “very unhappy”.
The Prime Minister has insisted that taxpayers could not afford the £10.5 billion compensation package, but there have been calls for a vote or for Number 10 to reconsider.
Andy McDonald, who was shadow employment rights minister between 2020 and 2021, wrote to the Prime Minister to say “the Government has made the wrong decision”.
“I urge you to reconsider this decision in the interests of justice for women denied a fair settlement,” he said.
Watch: Diane Abbott’s seven-word Starmer snub over PM’s Waspi decision
Diane Abbott’s seven-word Starmer snub over PM’s Waspi decision
Dianne Abbott accused Sir Keir Starmer of having "no feel for politics" after Labour's decision to not award compensation to Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women. In March, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommended the government pay compensation to women born in the 1950s whose state pension age was raised so it would be equal to men. The prime minister has denied MPs a vote on the decision to rule out compensation. Speaking on Newsnight on Wednesday (18 December), Ms Abbott said: "Remember he’s on his big fat DPP pension. What does he know about ageing women?”
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