WASPI Women

As I have said on BBC Any Questions?, I am one of the many MPs who stood and campaigned for the WASPI women, because I quite simply wanted to right the wrong. There were a number of women made significant life decisions believing they were set to retire at a certain age, and didn’t know they would be forced to retire at a different another age. 

As you will know, in December 2024, the Government issued a formal response, having carefully considered the Ombudsman’s findings. However, it subsequently emerged that important information about the effectiveness of the letters used to communicate SPA changes had not been provided when this decision was made. For that reason, in November 2025 the Government decided to reconsider its response to ensure it was based on all available evidence. 

Following an extensive review of historical documents, ministers have now accepted the Ombudsman’s finding that maladministration occurred, and that this contributed to delays in sending letters to women born in the 1950s. The Government has rightly repeated its apology for this failure. 

While I know it is deeply disappointing, the Government has made clear it believes the Ombudsman’s recommendation of a blanket figure of compensation to every woman born in the 1950s, at a cost of up to £10.5 billion, is neither proportionate nor targeted. Personally, I feel it would have been best for the previous Government to consult with campaign groups directly to identify those who actually suffered, rather than sitting on recommendations it knew the Government could not afford while failing to set aside any money towards compensation. 

Despite the outcome, I am glad that this Government put forward the first minister in eight years to meet with representatives of the WASPI campaign to listen to their concerns directly. The Government knows that lessons must be learnt from what has happened over recent decades to ensure everyone can properly plan for their retirement. Information about any future changes to the SPA must be communicated in a more timely and targeted way.