Ex-councillor and WASPI campaigner welcomes latest news

A Fylde coast campaigner has cautiously welcomed a new step forward in the battle for compensation for WASPI women.

The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaigners have been fighting for compensation after they were left out of pocket by thousands of pounds after a mishandled increase in the state pension age.

Some of the women, those born in the 1950s, lost almost £50,000 each when a rushed-through move to hike women’s retirement age from 60 to 65, in line with men’s at the time, meant the women didn’t have time to plan for their retirement and pensions.

Yesterday (Tuesday) the ongoing battle for compensation for WASPI women was given a boost when the Department for Work and Pensions settled the campaign’s judicial review claim out of court.

The latest move concerns the decision last year by then Secretary of State Liz Kendall to reject the conclusions of a six-year Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman inquiry, when she argued her decision was justified by “logical errors” in the Ombudsman’s report.

She claimed that women would not have benefitted from earlier notice of changes to the state pension age, despite arguments to the contrary.

But now the Department for Work and Pensions has now admitted the Minister was not shown significant research, which seriously undermined the Department’s position.

A special hearing is due to take place today to decide whether a judicial review trial scheduled for December 9/10 should proceed.

In the meantime, WASPI has won an agreement with the Government to obtain a quick reconsideration of the Secretary of State’s decision, with the option to reinitiate legal proceedings if the government makes further legal errors.

On the Fylde coast

Fylde coast campaigner Holly Swales, a former Wyre Labour councillor in Thornton, said: “This latest result is due to the sheer determination of the WASPI movement but ministers must accept that there has been a massive injustice to these women.

“They need to get the compensation which is clearly due to them.

“Overall, it is vital that this sort of shambles must never happen again and any new legislation must be good, fair and properly enforced.”

Ministers have committed to make ‘best endeavours’ to reconsider within 12 weeks (by 24 February 24 2026) and to pay more than half of WASPI’s legal costs, leaving campaigners with a significant war chest to relaunch the judicial review if necessary.

WASPI Chair Angela Madden commented: “Yet again, WASPI has held its nerve and yet again, virtually at the steps of the court, the Government has backed down, this time accepting last year’s decision denying the huge injustice suffered by WASPI women simply does not withstand scrutiny.

“Today’s agreement on speedy and thorough reconsideration is welcome. But the Government should be in no doubt that WASPI stands ready to return to court if it yet again fails to do the right thing.

“Ministers have to front this up now and accept the reality of injustice meted out to 1950s-born women. Further delays and denials just will not do.

“We want to thank our supporters and donors who have generously and unwaveringly supported us through this latest stage of our challenge. The road to victory is long but we are determined as ever to win this fight.”