The SNP has called on the new Labour government to deliver justice for more than 330,000 women in Scotland affected by State Pension age changes, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of breaking a key pre-election pledge.
In the weeks leading up to the General Election, Labour publicly backed the WASPI campaign, which seeks compensation for women who were not properly informed about increases to the State Pension age.
That promise has now been dropped, prompting the SNP to demand a third U-turn from Labour following recent reversals on Winter Fuel Payments and proposed disability payment cuts.
SNP MSP Clare Haughey said the government’s change of heart on those two issues showed public pressure works, and urged Labour to do the same for WASPI women.
She said Westminster’s mismanagement has left hundreds of thousands of women across Scotland facing financial hardship and uncertainty.
Haughey said that if Labour will not act, it should devolve the necessary powers to Holyrood so the Scottish Parliament can take action itself.
The campaign for justice has been running for years, led by women born in the 1950s who say they were given little or no notice of the changes, leaving them unable to plan properly for retirement.
An estimated 331,000 women in Scotland are affected.
Earlier this year, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman confirmed that the UK Government had failed to adequately inform women of the pension age changes, and recommended that a compensation scheme be introduced.
Despite that, there has been no firm commitment from the new Labour government on how or when it plans to respond.
Clare Haughey said it was time for answers.
“Labour’s U-turns on Winter Fuel Payments and disability cuts show they can be forced into doing the right thing,” she said.
“The SNP will continue to hold Sir Keir Starmer’s government to account, and now is the time for Westminster to do the right thing for WASPI women.”
“Over 330,000 women in Scotland have been left in the dark by unfair and poorly communicated Westminster changes to their pensions. Labour promised action, but now they’ve gone silent.”
She said after a year in office, there is no excuse for inaction.
“Labour need to deliver justice for the WASPI women in Scotland and across the UK.”
