Latest news with #RebeccaLong-Bailey
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
New WASPI online map shows position of every MP on State Pension age change compensation
New research from the WASPI campaign finds 134 MPs who previously backed compensation, no longer do so. A new interactive tool launched by the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign shows the UK-wide state of play of MP support for a compensation scheme for millions of women affected by changes to their retirement age. The new analysis shows 179 MPs have publicly blasted the UK Government's decision not to compensate WASPI women in recent months. WASPI said that of these, 56 Labour MPs have openly criticised Downing Street's failure to deliver justice, while dozens more are thought to be supportive behind the scenes, including several senior ministers. The map shows how smaller parties are almost unanimous in their support, with a strong coalition of Liberal Democrat, Reform UK, SNP, Green, Plaid Cymru and DUP MPs backing calls to compensate WASPI women. The smaller parties are almost unanimous in their support, with a strong coalition of Liberal Democrat, Reform UK, SNP, Green, Plaid Cymru and DUP MPs backing calls to compensate WASPI women. Around a dozen Conservative MPs have also recently reaffirmed their support for compensation. The findings come at the launch of WASPI's new website, which has new resources to enable supporters to write to their MP and join the campaign for as little as £15 per year. Some of the strongest advocates for WASPI women include members of the State Pension Inequality for Women APPG, chaired by Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey. The cross-party group of MPs is one of the largest in Parliament and includes representatives from across the major political parties who have vowed to continue the fight for justice. However, WASPI campaigners say 134 MPs previously backed calls for compensation but have failed to reaffirm their support since the Labour Government's announcement in December. The figures do not include serving government ministers or whips, at least 80 of whom have previously pledged their support for the campaign. Angela Madden, Chair of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), said: 'The Government's refusal to compensate WASPI women, despite admitting wrongdoing, is a national scandal. 'We know hundreds of principled MPs are still resolute in their support for those affected and firmly disagree with the decision taken by the Labour leadership. 'While some appear to have given up on us, abandoning the vulnerable women they once promised to fight for, it is clear that a majority of MPs know deep down that compensating WASPI women is the right thing to do.' With a High Court challenge into the UK Government's decision under consideration and a key vote on proposed disability benefit cuts due this month, it is thought more Labour MPs could soon speak out. In December, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall stunned MPs when she apologised for the failures made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), but stopped short of announcing plans for a compensation scheme. Campaigners say the failure of the Labour and Conservative leadership to back WASPI compensation has boosted support for the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK, as well as the Greens in urban areas, south of the border. It is thought both Plaid Cymru and the SNP could benefit from their strong support for WASPI women at next year's elections in Cardiff and Holyrood. All MPs' positions on compensation can be found on WASPI's interactive 'state of the nation' map, alongside new campaign resources, here.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Inmates at Forest Bank prison involved in 'passive protest' as government decides its future
Prisoners were involved in a protest on a wing at Salford's troubled Forest Bank prison which was 'peacefully resolved', managers have confirmed. The drama involved some inmates climbing 'at height' according to one well-placed source who said bosses had 'lost control'. The claim has been denied by spokesperson for the privately-run prison, which can house up to 1,460 inmates, who insisted the prison is operating a 'normal regime'. The prison source told the Manchester Evening News that trouble erupted at the prison on Tuesday morning, adding that 'association' had been ended so that most inmates could not mix on the wings and remained locked in their cells. READ MORE: Inmate jailed for slashing three victims found dead in Strangeways prison READ MORE: Manchester Airport issues statement after dad passes through security with weapons The Manchester Evening News put the allegations to prison bosses who have now responded, denying the source's claim that specialist outside resources were drafted in to restore order. An HMP Forest Bank spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that minor changes to the prison regime were made to further incentivise and encourage engagement in work, education and other rehabilitative activities. "A small number of prisoners were involved in a passive protest on one wing on Tuesday morning, 22nd April. This was quickly and peacefully resolved. The prison has been operating a normal regime.' The Ministry of Justice confirmed earlier this year it had temporarily extended Sodexo's contract to run the under-fire prison in Salford. Justice minister Lord Timpson confirmed in a letter in January that the 'contract award letter was issued in early August 2024 however an issue with the evaluation process was identified', prompting the delay in the announcement of the new contractor. The France-based facilities giant Sodexo was granted an extension to give the government more time to decide who should run the jail. Insiders at the prison expected a decision last summer, as the billion pound contract to build and run the jail ran out on January 19. Staff believed Sodexo would be axed following an M.E.N. investigation which uncovered allegations of widespread drug use and inmates who 'run the wings'. It prompted an MP and Salford's mayor to write to the government to demand an 'urgent' review. Revelations included a call from Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey for the Ministry of Justice to cancel the contract. In the summer the M.E.N. reported that two sources at the jail had said that the Ministry of Justice had decided to award the new contract to another company, but that Sodexo was appealing the decision. The Manchester Evening News' investigation in 2023, based on allegations from a whistleblower, an ex-prisoner and his father, and the family of a grandfather who died in his cell, exposed what Ms Long-Bailey branded a 'culture of lawlessness' at the jail. The M.E.N. revealed that: Drugs are rife, smuggled in via 'legal letters' and inmates are 'off their t**s a lot of the time' Inmates brew their own hooch Violence is commonplace and inmates 'run the wings' Staff feel 'unsafe' and a lone guard can be 'left to guard 100-plus inmates' Staff have to buy 'their own uniform because of cost-cutting' A desperate father paid off a drug dealer on his addict son's wing because 'staff didn't protect him' Sodexo's initial contract to run the prison ended on January 19, 2025. Back in 1998, it was awarded a deal worth £1,006,771,964 to design, build and run the prison built on the site of the former Agecroft power station under a private finance initiative to house a maximum 1,064 inmates. The deal was to last 25 years, before being extended. Sodexo, founded and based in France, runs six prisons in England and Scotland, and in 2022 recorded revenues of 21.1 billion euros, including 'underlying operating profit' of more than a billion euros, up 83 per cent. A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'We have extended the current contract to maintain continuity while procurement remains ongoing.'
