Waspi compensation rethink 'a delaying tactic'

Sisters Mary Waterhouse, Susan Dutton and Norma Elkinton are fighting for justice for Waspi women

A Lancashire campaigner has described the government's decision to reconsider its policy of not compensating women affected by a change in the state pension age as a "delaying" tactic.

The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group said 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were not properly informed of plans to increase the state pension age to bring them into line with men.

Last year, the government apologised for a 28-month delay in sending letters to women who would be affected, but rejected any kind of financial payouts.

Campaigner Norma Elkinton, from Blackpool, said: "They're delaying - all this time that paperwork's been there and they're saying that they never looked at it."

'Compensation recommended'

A document was not shown to Liz Kendall, who was the work and pensions secretary at the time the decision was made not to offer compensation.

This information will now need to be considered, the government said.

Current Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told the Commons earlier this week that it would not automatically lead to compensation.

"We just think that they're delaying what's happening at the High Court," Ms Elkinton, 68, told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"The judge is going to look at things again and his recommendation could mean that they have to do another review."

Early last year, a parliamentary ombudsman recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 for women affected by the government's decision to increase the state pension age from 60 to 66.

The Waspi campaign had called for payments of at least £10,000.