Waspi campaigner says pension decision a 'disgrace'

Jill Robertson (far right) said the government's decision over pension changes was completely unexpected

A campaigner has said it is a "disgrace" the government has rejected compensation for women impacted by changes to the state pension age.

Jill Robertson, a coordinator of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign from Little Billing, Northamptonshire, said: ""We're devastated, it's despicable."

The changes, which aligned the state pension age of women with men, have affected an estimated 3.6 million women born in the 1950s.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged campaigners' disappointment but noted that an ombudsman found "around 90% of women did know these changes were coming".

But the campaigners still argue the women were not adequately informed.

Ms Robertson said: "We had been told [the current government] would be looking at [the changes,] and there was always this feeling that they would deal with it because the previous government had failed to do anything about it."

Members of Northamptonshire Waspi protested in London several times

Nine months ago, the parliamentary ombudsman suggested compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 for affected women.

The Waspi campaign has consistently advocated for payments of at least £10,000 per person.

Another Waspi member, Mary Jones from Sywell, Northamptonshire, added: "We've done everything we can and I'm amazed the government hasn't listened to the ombudsman.

"That announcement completely shocked me."

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall apologised for a 28-month delay in notifying women of the changes but ruled out financial compensation, despite the ombudsman's recommendation.

The government argued compensation would cost up to £10.5bn, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warning it would "impose a further burden on the taxpayer".