WASPI chief issues major update in next step in campaign to get DWP compensation
EXCLUSIVE: Campaigners will be stepping up their action as MPs return to Parliament.
WASPI campaigners are pressing on in their efforts to get MPs to grant them compensation. A recent report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommended payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950, calling on Parliament to take action on the question.
Angela Madden, chair of WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality), told Express.co.uk: "We will be writing to Penny Mordaunt, so will some MPs on our behalf and hopefully others, to put pressure on her to make time in the Parliamentary schedule for a debate on this issue.
"We have a lot of MPs who are supportive and want to have their say."
MPs return to Parliament today (April 15) after the Easter break and many MPs have already voiced their support for paying compensation to the WASPI generation of women.
Ms Madden said: "60 percent of WASPI women haven’t decided how they’re going to vote. That’s a lot of votes, that’s over two million across the country, which would make a difference.
"Quite often the majority in mainly Conservative threatened seats is less than the number of WASPI women in the constituency."
She said she would like to see the women get high Level 5 or Level 6 compensation under the Ombudsman's categories.
Don't miss...
Pension savers urged to act as key policy change comes into force [POLICY]
Woman hit with HMRC tax warning after selling flat she's never even lived in [TAX]
MAPPED: WASPI compensation amounts - how much women in your area could receive [WASPI]
Level 5 compensation provides payouts of between £3,000 and £9,950 while Level 6 is the highest level, with payouts of £10,000 or more.
DWP minister Mel Stride was asked about when Parliament will act on the issue of compensation last week.
He told ITV: "There'll be no undue delay in us coming forward, but I do want to have sufficient time.
"There are very strong feelings about this on all sides of the argument as to whether compensation should be paid or not."
Ms Madden said in response: "We don’t understand why Mel Stride needs more time to consider.
"He had the same information that we had when the interim report came out before Christmas. We all gave commentary back on January 19.
"So why he needs more time to integrate a report that he saw at least six months ago for the first time, is incredible really.
"It’s just another delaying tactic is what we feel, and how much time do they need? Why is his time more important than our time? We’ve been fighting this fight for nine years."
For the latest personal finance news, follow us on Twitter at @ExpressMoney_.
