A columnist for The Telegraph has urged the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) not to make payouts to the WASPI campaign, describing their cause as "not deserving" and "preposterous." Melanie McDonagh, writing in the newspaper, called on the Labour Party government to resist pressure from the campaign group, which represents women affected by changes to the state pension age.
Background on the WASPI Campaign
Campaigners confirmed on Wednesday, May 13, that they are pursuing a fresh High Court challenge following an Ombudsman report. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman previously suggested compensation ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 for each affected woman, citing poor communication of state pension changes.
However, in January, women impacted by the changes were told for a second time that they would not receive compensation. A previous decision not to offer redress was reviewed after the rediscovery of a 2007 DWP evaluation, which had led officials to stop sending automatic pension forecast letters.
Columnist's Criticism
In her column, McDonagh argued: "There is no cause less deserving than Waspi women." She described the campaigners' threats to renew their fight for compensation as "the most impudent example of grievance culture." She added: "Certainly the size of the cohort of workers who have to pay for other people’s pensions will dwindle, possibly quite quickly. In light of this, the claims of the Waspi women look even more preposterous. Nice try, ladies, but no go."
Campaign Response
Angela Madden, chair of the WASPI campaign, responded to the new legal bid by stating: "The Government has had every opportunity to do the right thing for Waspi women. Instead, they have made a political choice that risks alienating voters in hundreds of marginal seats across the country." She added that Labour "now has a clear choice: listen to Waspi women and compensate them fairly, or face the consequences at the next general election."
