Clive Jones calls government WASPI announcement "a shockingly tone-deaf mistake"

In a statement today, the Government announced that the WASPI women - women born in the 1950s who were not properly informed of the change in state pension and as such lost thousands of pounds each – would not receive any financial compensation from the Government. 

This decision comes following an independent investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman into the communication of the change of women’s state pension age in 1995. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, conceded that there was “significant maladministration”, but firmly drew the line at actually providing any compensation. She did this while citing the practical difficulties involved, as well as the financial blackhole the previous government left them in. 

Clive Jones, the Liberal Democrat MP for Wokingham, said: 
“I am angered by the Government’s announcement today that the WASPI women, who were robbed of a fair pension, will receive no compensation at all. 

“Years of economic neglect from the Conservatives means that bold action is necessary to help Britain back up from its knees, but refusing fair compensation to a generation of women who did nothing wrong is not an acceptable method. 

“This was a shockingly tone-deaf mistake by the Government, and I will be pressing Ministers to reverse it as soon as possible.” 

Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Steve Darling MP, said: 

“Today is a day of shame for the Government. 

“The new government has turned its back on millions of pension-age women who were wronged through no fault of their own, ignoring the independent Ombudsman’s recommendations, and that is frankly disgraceful. 

“The Conservative Party left our economy in a shambles, but asking wronged pensioners to pay the price of their mismanagement is simply wrong. 

“For years, Liberal Democrats have pushed the Government to fairly compensate WASPI women in line with the Ombudsman’s recommendations. Today’s heartless decision cannot be allowed to stand, and we will be pressing Ministers to give those affected the fair treatment they deserve.”