UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Liberal Democrats are considering a Commons vote on Waspi compensation, with deputy leader Daisy Cooper expressing concerns over Labour’s decision to reject the compensation plan.
Daisy Cooper revealed that the Liberal Democracy party could use an expected Opposition Day debate in the House of Commons to demand a vote on the issue.
As reported by The Guardian, approximately 100 Labour MPs are likely to oppose the government’s decision to exclude a £10bn compensation package for women born in the 1950s who were unaware of pension age changes.
Daisy Cooper stated,
“We will continue to raise it in Parliament at every opportunity, and that may include an opposition day debate.”
She said they are extremely frustrated and think the government must revise its approach.
Ms Cooper added,
“We will continue to raise it in Parliament at every opportunity, and that may include an opposition day debate, but it would be too early to say.”
She said the party would review the key issues in Parliament during their next opposition day debate, giving them a chance to influence the Commons’ agenda.
Ms Cooper said the Lib Dems were surprised when ministers rejected the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s suggestion to compensate women impacted by the pension age changes.
The Independent reports that the watchdog said women could receive up to £2,950 each, with a total cost of £10.5 billion, because poor communication left them unprepared for retirement changes.
The government ruled out the compensation, saying it would not be a fair allocation of taxpayer funds for Waspi campaign members.
Daisy Cooper highlighted a significant shift in the government’s approach to various issues since Labour took office, expressing initial optimism.
She added it was harder to get a direct response from a Conservative minister than from Labour.
Last week, Sir Keir argued that taxpayers could not bear the cost of the compensation package suggested by the parliamentary ombudsman.
Despite the prime minister and other Labour politicians previously displaying solidarity with Waspi women in pictures.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who had supported the campaigners in the past, told the press that Labour’s most recent election manifesto did not promise compensation.
She stated,
“It was in our manifesto in 2019 but we all know what happened in that general election, and you’ll remember as well at that general election Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell said that you would fund it from the reserve.”
According to Ms. Cooper, the Liberal Democracy has made a “big gear shift” with their parliamentary representation growing to 72 MPs since the general election.
During PMQs on Wednesday, Keir Starmer denied MPs a vote on the £10.5bn compensation package, arguing it was unaffordable, while his own MPs accused him of “betrayal.”
The Wapsi campaign argues that 3.5 million women born in the 1950s were not adequately informed about the state pension age change to match men’s retirement age.
BBC reported that the Waspi group states that numerous women had planned their spending plans according to the original state pension age, with some retiring only to find they were ineligible to receive their pension.
The Labour government’s decision not to award compensation ignores a March independent review’s recommendation of £1,000 to £2,950 for those impacted.