Dozens of Labour MPs 'could lose seats' in Waspi backlash, data says
The data from the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group shows more then 300 MPs across the UK have majorities smaller than the number of WASPI women living in their are, with many of those seats won by Labour for the first time in over a decade last year.
The group says around 20 Labour MPs are in "extremely vulnerable positions" given there are at least 5000 more Waspi women in their constituencies than the size of their majority.
Meanwhile, 133 MPs sitting on the Labour benches have a difference of at least 1000.
The Scottish MPs deemed to be "at risk" according to the data include Elaine Stewart, Irene Campbell, Chris Murray, John Grady, Zubir Ahmed and Martin Rhodes.
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The parliamentary ombudsman recommended in March last year that women born in the 1950s affected by increases to the state pension age be handed compensation of between £1000 and £2950 per person.
The Labour Government offered Waspi women an apology, but opted not to hand out any compensation arguing it would be too much of a burden on the taxpayer – behaviour which was subsequently described as 'extremely unusual' by the ombudsman.
The ombudsman highlighted a 99.9% compliance rate for its recommendations and warned the watchdog would become a 'toothless tiger if Parliament steps away from supporting us when there isn't compliance".
So far, nearly 50 Labour MPs have publicly hit out at the UK Government's decision not to compensate Waspi women.
(Image: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire) Angela Madden, Waspi chair, said of the data: "These results are a seismic blow for ministers and make grim reading for anyone who thinks they can take the votes of an entire generation of women for granted.
'The failure of Labour to compensate Waspi women – and indeed some opposition parties in properly challenging their decision – undermines the public's confidence in our institutions and creates a significant electoral risk.
'With women affected by DWP failures now forced to haul the Government before the High Court, ministers must stop defending the indefensible – we need justice now.'
Last month, Waspi campaigners confirmed they had filed for a High Court judicial review following the Government's decision.
The 1995 Pensions Act and subsequent legislation raised the state pension age for women born on or after April 6 1950.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) investigated complaints that, since 1995, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) failed to provide accurate, adequate and timely information about areas of state pension reform.
The DWP's handling of the pension age changes meant some women lost opportunities to make informed decisions about their finances. It diminished their sense of personal autonomy and financial control, the ombudsman said.
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