The exchange came after the government’s controversial decision on Tuesday to reject pay outs for the 3.5million women born in the 1950s, who missed out pension payments
PMQs: Dianne Abbott grills Starmer over Waspi women
Keir Starmer faced fury over the Government’s WASPI “betrayal” – with Labour stalwart Diane Abbott accusing him of letting down millions of women.
The PM was confronted by angry MPs in a tense PMQs session. He is under fire after Labour rejected payouts to 3.5million 1950s-born women hit by the pension age scandal.
In a powerful Commons intervention, senior backbencher Ms Abbott told the PM: “The WASPI women fought one of the most sustained and passionate campaigns for justice than I can remember.
“Year in year out. We did promise them that we would give them justice. I understand the issue about the cost, but does the PM really understand how let down WASPI women feel today?” The PM replied: “I do understand the concern, of course I do.
“I set out the history but the research is clear that 90% of those impacted did know about the change. In those circumstances the taxpayers simply can’t afford the burden of tens of billions of pounds of compensation, but I do understand the concerns.”
In March the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman called on Parliament to urgently pay out between £1,000 and £2,950 to each 1950s-born woman affected. But the Government rejected this, despite admitting maladministration within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Thousands of women were thrown into poverty after the DWP failed to properly inform them the state pension age was rising. This left them unable to properly plan for their future.
Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne demanded the PM allows a vote on the issue, saying WASPI women had experienced an “injustice done to them at the hands of the state”.
He asked: “Will the Prime Minister give members the opportunity to vote on whether they believe Waspi women are owed compensation?” Mr Starmer replied: “I just set out the factual background and the percentage that knew about the change, and the simple fact of the matter is, in the current economic circumstances, the taxpayer can’t bear the burden of tens of billions of pounds in compensation.”
On Tuesday independent MP Rebecca Long Bailey, who co-chairs the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on State Pension Inequality for Women, said the Government’s apology was “not enough” for WASPI women. Ms Long Bailey, who was suspended by Mr Starmer for rebelling over the two child benefit cap, said the APPG had found “huge numbers” of women suffering “significant financial hardship”.
The Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also accused the PM of “playing politics” with the WASPI women.
She said: “For years the Prime Minister and his Cabinet played politics with the Waspi women. The Deputy Prime Minister (Angela Rayner) said Conservatives were stealing their pensions. She promised to compensate them in full, another broken promise.
“Now they admit we were right all along. But let’s ask about another group of pensioners whose trust was broken. Since the Chancellor cut winter fuel payments, how many extra people have applied for pension credit?”
But the PM replied: “The number one job of this Government was to put the finances back in order after the last government lost control.
“They left a £22 billion black hole and we had to take tough choices. We made sure the most vulnerable pensioners do get the winter fuel payment and we have been encouraging them and driving up eligibility for pension credit.
“So she should join that campaign, but here’s the difference – because we’ve stabilised the economy, we can commit to the triple lock. That means that next April, pensioners get another £470.”