SNP Westminster Candidate for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, Graham Leadbitter, has thrown their support behind local women born in the 1950s, whose State Pension age was increased without proper notice.
Graham met with WASPI – Women Against State Pension Inequality – campaigners and is backing their calls for fair and fast compensation.
WASPI campaigns for a one-off compensation payment for women affected by the Department of Work and Pension’s failure to properly communicate State Pension age increases from 60 to 66.
The worst impacted individuals were given only 18 months’ notice of a six-year increase to their State Pension age.
Campaigners say many had their retirement plans thrown into chaos as a result.
A landmark Parliamentary Ombudsman report in March 2024 found the Government was guilty of maladministration and should urgently apologise and pay compensationto those impacted.
Calls for financial redress were supported by hundreds of MPs prior to the general election being called.
A national poll conducted by Yonder in May 2024 found that 68 per cent of the British public backed compensation for those impacted by the pensions scandal.
Local campaigners have urged parliamentary candidates in Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey to ensure plans to resolve this long-running injustice for 3.6 million womenare brought forward within 100 days of the election.
Angela Madden, Chair of the Women Against State Pension (WASPI) campaign, said:
“We are very grateful to Graham Leadbitter for his support.
“This election is a vital opportunity for other candidates to join them in calling for fair and fast compensation to be urgently delivered to WASPI women within the first 100 days of the next Parliament.
“More than 280,000 women have tragically died since our campaign began, with another dying every 13 minutes.
“We simply cannot afford to wait any longer for justice to be delivered.”
Graham Leadbitter, Scottish National Party, parliamentary candidate for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, said:
“I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with WASPI women in our constituency, calling for fair and fast compensation to be delivered urgently.
“I will continue to champion their calls both locally and in Westminster, if I have the privilege of being elected.
“Whilst both the Conservatives and Labour are refusing to commit to compensation, the SNP’s manifesto pledge is clear.
“We will work to make the UK Government provide ‘full, fast and fair compensation for women who have been wronged by pension inequality’.
“That is our promise to WASPI women.”
