WASPI women not asking for charity, they seek justice

The fight for justice for thousands of women not properly informed about the hike in pension age is not over. Sir John Hayes warns the Government it is guilty of 'moral failure' if it continues to deny women the compensation they deserve

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THE great Conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once opined, "Power has only one duty - to secure the social welfare of the people".

Holding governments accountable is integral to the legitimacy they derive from their democratic mandate. Beyond the framework of parliamentary accountability, various checks and balances have been established over time to ensure good governance.

While our excellent select committees, and the Intelligence and Security Committee, on which I serve, play essential roles, the office of the Ombudsman has emerged as one of the most respected sources of retrospective scrutiny of government.

Referrals for their considered judgment are not mere formalities in our political system; they have become essential components of it. MPs across the political spectrum understand that, just as we don't send matters to the Ombudsman lightly, neither should we take their rulings lightly.