WASPI new hope as Andy Burnham set to meet campaign over redress options

EXCLUSIVE: WASPI new hope as Andy Burnham set to meet campaign over redress options EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham has agreed to meet WASPI campaigners to discuss ways to put the pension age scandal right, having said he is uncomfortable with the way millions of women were treated by politicians Andy Burnham has agreed to meet with WASPI campaigners to discuss putting the scandal right, campaigners told The Mirror. The incoming PM, who will take office on Monday, said last month he would stick by 1950s-born women let down by failures in the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) when the state pension age rose. Labour under Keir Starmer refused to roll out a compensation package, as recommended by an independent ombudsman back in 2024. But Angela Madden, who chairs the Women Against State Pension Inequality ( WASPI ) group, said positive talks had taken place with Mr Burnham’s camp - with more to come when he is in No10. Mrs Madden told The Mirror: “WASPI met with Andy Burnham during the Makerfield by-election, where he confirmed his long-standing support for the campaign, recognising the injustice many 1950s-born women have suffered. "Since then, WASPI has accepted an offer to discuss in more detail what potential redress for 1950s-born women looks like. The Parliamentary Ombudsman's findings were six years in the making, and they deserve exactly this kind of serious engagement - something WASPI women have not received from successive governments. "WASPI has always been willing to discuss a fair route to compensation, working with any politician, from any party, who wants to work with us to bring this long-running injustice to an end." Campaigners say they expect the new Prime Minister to stand by his pledge to discuss redress. During the Makerfield by-election last month, Mr Burnham said he was uncomfortable with the way millions of WASPI women had been treated by politicians. More than two years ago the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) called for a compensation scheme to be urgently rolled out, with payouts of £1,000 and £2,950 for over 3.5million. But his team later clarified he was not planning to spend up to £10.5billion. At a hustings event in the constituency he said: "I have long supported the campaign and I feel uncomfortable when politicians were all holding up their banner and then got into government and didn't do anything. "So I stick by the campaigns that I support. I stuck by the Hillsborough families and I will stick by the WASPI women because they deserve some recompense for the unfairness." But his team later indicated he would look at options like concessionary bus and rail travel - something he introduced when he was Mayor of Greater Manchester. A a campaign source said: “Andy has always recognised the unfair way in which state pension equalisation was introduced. As Mayor of Greater Manchester, he supported WASPI women in the city-region with early access to concessionary travel, providing some recompense to them within affordability limits. "He accepts the final decision has been made in relation to financial compensation but has indicated an openness to considering similar schemes on the Greater Manchester model.” Failure to properly notify affected women that the state pension age was rising from 60 to 65 meant many were unable to plan for their future. In extreme cases, women were plunged into poverty after leaving their jobs while unaware of the rules had changed. While Labour was in opposition, senior party figures including Mr Starmer backed the campaign. But he later refused to authorise compensation, saying it was not a good use of public money. The PM claimed 90% of women impacted by the state pension age going up were aware it was happening. He told the Commons in December 2024: "The research is clear that 90% of those impacted did know about the change. In those circumstances the taxpayers simply can't afford the burden of tens of billions of pounds of compensation, but I do understand the concerns." The WASPI campaign has applied for a High Court judicial review over the government's refusal to award compensation. But insiders said they are hopeful a new Labour government will take a fresh look at their demands. Between April 2010 and November 2018 the State Pension age for women gradually increased from 60 to 65. It went up again to 66 in October 2020, and is due to go up to 67 by 2028. [Image text:] DONTLET US-DIE WAiTiNGEOR PENSIONS JUSTICE NG.NO NOTICE NOISNS IMON NO 10