WASPI campaigners 'sceptical' over calls

A recent call for women affected by a change to the state pension age to have their case reexamined has been met with a mixed response from the region’s politicians.

- STUART MCFARLANE

The fate of the so-called ‘WASPI’ women has been an ongoing issue, owing to the decision made by the then PM John Major's government to increase the state pension age for women to 65, in line with men.

The move was then sped up in 2010 by the then coalition UK Government to come into effect in 2018 - with around 2.6 million women estimated to have been impacted as a result.

A review published in March 2024 from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said that government had failed to inform women of the change to the state pension age and recommending some form of compensation be offered.

However, that call was rejected by then Work and Pensions Minister Liz Kendall - sparking fury from millions of women across the country set to be affected, including around 10,000 in Stirling.