Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar Criticizes Denial of Waspi Women’s Compensation

Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour, has stated that the prime minister erred in not providing compensation to women impacted by the UK government’s insufficient notification regarding state pension alterations. The Member of the Scottish Parliament acknowledged the UK government’s correct identification of the “injustice” experienced by these women, but expressed his “disappointment” that no financial settlement was offered. This statement followed Sir Keir Starmer’s assertion that the Treasury lacked the funds for such compensation, with Labour ministers estimating the overall expense could have exceeded £10bn. According to Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi), 3.6 million women born in the 1950s, including hundreds of thousands in Scotland, did not receive adequate notice about the increase in the state pension age, which aimed to equalize it with that of men. When questioned by BBC Scotland News about his stance on the UK government’s decision, Sarwar responded: “I think they’re right in the apology, I think they’re right in recognising injustice, I think they’re wrong on the compensation.” He acknowledged the financial challenges confronting the government but suggested that ministers could have explored “targeted” or “tapered” assistance instead of a universal compensation scheme. Sarwar further commented that he thought ministers could have reached “a fairer compromise.” Prominent Labour figures, such as Sarwar himself, his deputy Jackie Baillie, Sir Keir, and Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, have publicly supported the Waspi campaign over recent years. In 2022, Sir Keir endorsed a commitment formulated by Scottish activists advocating for “fair and fast compensation.” Nevertheless, Labour’s 2024 manifesto did not include a commitment to compensation. Anne Potter, a Scottish Waspi member who encountered the prime minister during his signing of the pledge in 2022, conveyed to BBC Politics Live that she was “disgusted” by the UK government’s choice, characterizing it as a “slap in the face.” Michael Shanks, her constituency MP and a Labour minister, informed the program that allocating over £10bn for compensation would not constitute “a good use of public money at this time.” Waspi asserts that women born in the 1950s were not adequately informed that their state pension age would increase from 60 to 65. These proposals were initially declared in the 1990s and subsequently accelerated by the 2011 Pensions Act. In March, a UK parliamentary ombudsman suggested compensation ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 for these women. Waspi had advocated for a minimum of £10,000 per individual. While UK Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall offered an apology for a 28-month delay in dispatching letters notifying of the pension adjustment, she stated that no proof of “direct financial loss” stemming from the government’s decision existed. The UK government indicated that the cumulative expense of compensation frameworks proposed by the ombudsman might fall between £3.5bn and £10.5bn. First Minister John Swinney characterized the UK government’s choice as a “serious embarrassment” for Scottish Labour. In response to Sarwar, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn posted on X: “Labour’s Branch Office Manager in Scotland helpfully confirming, once again, that he holds no sway over Labour in London.” Earlier, speaking to BBC Scotland News, he labeled Labour ministers “cowards” and accused the UK government of betraying Waspi women. Flynn remarked: “It’s been happy enough to offer an apology, but it’s not happy to offer compensation – against the advice of the independent experts.” He has called upon opposition members to compel a parliamentary vote to “flush out” Labour MPs “shameless enough to stand behind the plaques saying that they backed the Waspi campaign but who are now of course backing Keir Starmer’s spineless government.” Sarwar’s appeal marks another instance of his public disagreement with UK Labour since Sir Keir assumed leadership in July. The Scottish Labour leader has previously voiced opposition to the two-child benefits cap, which the prime minister has declined to abolish. He also contended that means testing for the winter fuel payment was excessively stringent after the UK government eliminated universal provision for millions of pensioners.