Don't Blame UK's Finances For Not Fixing Pension Injustice

Campaigners argue it would be ‘outrageous' to deny thousands compensation

- Steph Spyro

VICTIMS of a £1billion state pension injustice must be compensated, ministers have been warned.

It would be "outrageous" if stretched public finances were used as an excuse to deny them payments.

Tens of thousands of married women were affected and many of them are yet to receive any compensation from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Former Pensions Minister Sir Steve Webb, a partner at consultants LCP, said: "I have been campaigning for the women affected for many years, and a number of complaints are currently still working their way through the system. If those complaints are upheld, it might land the Government with a big bill. But it would be outrageous if the state of the public finances meant that the Government tried to avoid paying.

"These women have lost many thousands of pounds through no fault of their own, and they deserve to have this put right."

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she inherited a £22billion black hole in public finances, a claim refuted by her predecessor Jeremy Hunt.

The fear is ministers may decide to ignore an ombudsman ruling to compensate potentially hundreds of thousands hit by a separate issue.

Precedent