Liz Kendall, the Labour MP for Leicester West, has spoken out against the idea of compensating Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) women, calling it “not fair or value for the taxpayer.”
The Waspi campaign represents women born in the 1950s who have been affected by changes to the state pension age, which have resulted in many women having to wait longer than expected to receive their pensions. The campaign argues that these changes were made without proper notice or consideration for the impact on these women’s retirement plans.
While there is widespread sympathy for the plight of these women, Kendall believes that compensating them would be a costly and unsustainable solution. She argues that the government has already made concessions to ease the transition for affected women, such as allowing them to access pension credit earlier than planned.
Kendall also emphasizes the importance of considering the wider implications of compensating the Waspi women. She points out that the cost of such compensation would have to be borne by taxpayers, many of whom are also facing financial challenges. In her view, it would not be fair to ask taxpayers to foot the bill for a problem that was caused by changes in pension policy that were made for the greater good.
Instead of focusing on compensating individual groups of women, Kendall believes that the government should work towards ensuring a fairer pension system for all. This includes addressing issues such as the gender pay gap and promoting financial literacy to help women better prepare for retirement.
While Kendall’s stance may be controversial, it raises important questions about the best way to address the grievances of the Waspi women while also balancing the needs of the wider population. Ultimately, finding a sustainable and equitable solution to this issue will require careful consideration and collaboration between policymakers, campaigners, and taxpayers.