The SNP has accused Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar of failing to stand up to Westminster over the continued refusal to compensate WASPI women.
The criticism follows the UK Labour government’s decision in December 2024 to deny compensation, despite a ruling by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
At the time, Sarwar publicly described the decision as wrong and said women affected by changes to the state pension age should receive compensation.
The SNP says Sarwar has since failed to challenge the decision effectively, accusing Westminster of ignoring his position.
Figures highlighted by the SNP last year show that more than 4,000 WASPI women in Scotland have died since the end of 2020.
The party says this equates to more than two women a day dying before reaching the age of 66 without receiving any compensation for the injustice they experienced.
The issue has again raised questions over the relationship between Scottish Labour and the UK Labour leadership under Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The SNP argues that Sarwar’s position has been repeatedly sidelined by Westminster on major policy decisions affecting Scotland.
Commenting, SNP MSP and long time WASPI campaigner Clare Haughey said:
“Anas Sarwar has, not for the first time, been utterly humiliated by his Labour Party bosses in Westminster.
“Keir Starmer has shown that Anas Sawar’s opinion means as much to him as one of his promises, absolutely nothing.
“Every single day more WASPI women are sadly dying without receiving the compensation they deserved.
“That is an outrage.”
“This is not the end of the campaign, the SNP will continue to fight for compensation, and a day of reckoning is coming for Anas Sarwar where he will have to look these women in the eye and make a choice.
“Will he finally stand up for Scotland or, will it be more subservience to Starmer?”
