Waspi women latest: Starmer accused of ‘breaking promise’ as he denies ‘misleading’ women over compensation
Starmer’s Labour was accused of broken promises at PMQs over its decision not to pay compensation to 3.8 million Waspi women
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Mother of the House Diane Abbott has accused the Labour government of breaking a previous promise to compensate the Waspi women, as Sir Keir Starmer was grilled in PMQs.
Calls for women born in the 1950s to receive thousands in compensation were rejected yesterday by work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall. The Waspi women say they were not properly aware of the rise in state pension age from 60 to 65, and that it has affected their retirement plans.
“We did promise them that we would give them justice,” Ms Abbott said. “I understand the issue about the cost, but does the prime minister really understand how let down Waspi women feel today?”
The government’s decision has sparked “raw fury” among campaigners.
Labour’s refusal of compensation comes despite the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) ruling that affected women were due compensation of typically £1,000 to £2,950 each.
Downing Street said Sir Keir does not accept that he “misled” Waspi campaigners by backing their calls for compensation.
“The prime minister and the secretary of state yesterday were very clear that this is a difficult decision, it is not one that has been taken lightly, but it’s based on the evidence in the Ombudsman’s report,” Sir Keir’s official spokesperson said.
Waspi campaigners acccuse Starmer of spreading ‘dangerous misinformation’ over State Pension age changes
Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaigners have accused the Prime Minister of spreading “dangerous misinformation” in his defence of how State Pension age changes were communicated to women born in the 1950s.
Angela Madden, Chair of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), said: “This isn’t just misleading; it’s an insult to millions of 1950s-born women who were blindsided by these changes. The Ombudsman’s findings were based on rigorous evidence showing that 60 per cent of women had no idea their own State Pension age was rising.
“The Government’s attempt to cherry-pick data to suggest otherwise is spreading dangerous misinformation, plain and simple.”
Ms Madden added: “The fact that 90 per cent of women had some general awareness of potential changes in the future does not mean they knew this would impact them personally.
“That is exactly why the Ombudsman identified maladministration and why this Government’s continued attempts to muddy the waters are so unacceptable.”
‘Deep disquiet’ in the incoming US adminstration over Chagos Islands, Farage says
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said there is “very deep disquiet” among members of the incoming US administration about the agreement for the Chagos Islands.
Mr Farage, a long-time backer of US President-elect Donald Trump, told the Commons: “I’ve just returned hotfoot from a very full Mar-a-Lago and I’ve spoken to several members, senior administrators especially, of the incoming administration who will be in the White House in 32 days’ time.
“Let me assure you there is very deep disquiet amongst all of them as to what this may mean for the long-term future of Diego Garcia and whether any such deal would hold given the precedent of the deal break over Hong Kong. They also can’t understand why we’d surrender the sovereignty of these islands on an advisory judgment from a pretty obscure court.”
He added: “Can we please, if we respect the sovereignty of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands on the basis of it’s what the people want, have a referendum of all of the eligible Chagossians and let them decide what the future sovereignty of the Chagos Islands is?”
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said the interests of the Chagossians are “absolutely at the heart” of the agreement, adding: “I do find (Mr Farage) continues to speculate.
“With the greatest respect, he does not know the detail of what is agreed, he doesn’t know the detail that has been shared, he doesn’t know the detail that the national security apparatus of the United States has considered, and I am confident that he would have his concerns allayed when he sees the detail of this deal.”
All of Starmer’s ‘betrayals’ and U-turns as Labour faces Waspi women backlash
The Independent looks at all the times Sir Keir Starmer has let voters down or outright U-turned on his promises on the journey from Labour leader to prime minister
Read the full report below:
All of Starmer’s ‘betrayals’ and U-turns as Labour faces Waspi women backlash
The Independent looks at all the times Sir Keir Starmer has let voters down or outright U-turned on his promises on the journey from Labour leader to prime minister
Comment: Labour’s betrayal of Waspi women is a sign its problems now go far beyond pensioners
By alienating the demographic most likely to turn out to vote, Keir Starmer will now struggle to shake off accusations that his government is happy to say one thing and do another, says John Rentoul
Labour’s betrayal of Waspi women is a sign its problems now go far beyond pensioners
By alienating the demographic most likely to turn out to vote, Keir Starmer will now struggle to shake off accusations that his government is happy to say one thing and do another, says John Rentoul
Minister defends government negotiations on the Chagos Islands
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said the Mauritian prime minister is “willing to conclude this deal with the United Kingdom” as he defended the Government’s negotiations on the Chagos Islands.
Responding to shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel he told MPs: “We are absolutely not damaging our security. We are protecting it through this deal, and that is why this deal has been agreed to protect the operation of that base, to protect it against the legal uncertainty, and to ensure that it is on a safe footing well into the next century.”
He added: “(Dame Priti) asked me, would we be able to extend the lease? The answer is yes. Would we continue to have the autonomy of our operations for those allies? Absolutely yes. Are there safeguards in place to prevent foreign forces or others on the outer islands? Absolutely yes. I have answered the questions on costs a number of times in the House. We are very, very clear that it is not normal practice for the United Kingdom to confirm the value of its payments for military bases anywhere across the globe.”
Mr Doughty further stated: “She referred to media reports, there is a huge amount of speculation. Let’s get back to the actual facts on this which is that the prime minister has confirmed himself in Mauritius to his assembly, that he is willing to conclude this deal with the United Kingdom. Those are the facts and we will protect our national security and our interests.”
Inflation analysis: Prices rising faster means higher borrowing costs for longer amid recession fears
The rise in inflation last month is likely to mean higher borrowing costs for longer.
Prices rose at the faster rate of 2.6 per cent in November, up from 2.3 per cent in October.
The faster price gains for consumer goods like food and energy place inflation outside the Bank of England’s target rate of 2 per cent, which means a fall in interest rates is unlikely, economists say.
Petrol prices, train travel and products such as margarine and eggs helped drive up prices the most, the Office for National Statistics said.
Howard Mustoe reports:
Prices rising faster means higher borrowing costs for longer amid recession fears
The rise in inflation last month is likely to mean higher borrowing costs for longer
PM denys he ‘misled’ Waspi campaginers
The Prime Minister does not accept that he “misled” Waspi campaigners by backing their calls for compensation, Downing Street has said.
Asked whether Sir Keir Starmer would accept that characterisation, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “No, but as I say I can’t speak to comments made pre-election.
“But the point that I’d make is that in Government the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for DWP have been able to study the Ombudsman’s report and it is very clear that this cohort faced no direct financial loss as a result of delays in DWP sending out those letters, that by 2006 90% of the cohort were aware that the state pension age was changing.
“He and the secretary of state yesterday were very clear that this is a difficult decision, it is not one that has been taken lightly, but it’s based on the evidence in the Ombudsman’s report.”
Sir Keir’s spokesperson added the government has “no plans” for a vote on whether to compensate women affected by changes to the state pension age.
Labour’s new bill for children: What parents need to know
Labour has introduced its landmark children’s bill to parliament, bringing in a range of sweeping changes which will affect both parents and educators.
Introduced by Department for Education (DfE) secretary Bridget Phillipson, the new legislation is designed to improve children’s safety and education standards in the UK.
Ms Phillipson said: “In recent years, too many children have been failed by their last line of defence: the state.”
“This bill will be a seminal moment for child protection. No more words, no more lessons learnt. This government will put children first at every turn.”
Albert Toth explains everything you need to know about the plans:
Labour’s new laws for children: What parents need to know
Changes to homeschooling and academies come in Labour’s landmark bill
Watch: Diane Abbott accuses Starmer of ‘breaking promise’ to Waspi women in heated PMQs
Revealed: Brexit has reduced UK exports by £27bn, new report claims
A damning report has revealed that British exports have been hit with a £27 billion loss as a result of Brexit.
The paper by the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) has found that Boris Johnson’s Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) has reduced total goods exports from the UK by an estimated £27bn (or 6.4 per cent) in 2022 – due to a 13.2 per cent fall in the value of goods exported to the EU.
It comes as the government prepares to open talks in the new year for a Brexit deal reset with the EU but is being pressed to make significant compromises on allowing the European Court of Justice to have jurisdiction in the UK and allowing free movement for young people.
The CEP, based at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), uses data from more than 100,000 firms to estimate the gap between the actual value of exports under the TCA and what would have been expected had the UK remained in the EU.
Political editor David Maddox reports:
Revealed: Brexit has reduced UK exports by £27bn, new report claims
A report by the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) has revealed that small businesses have been worst hit by a £27bn drop in exports caused by Brexit
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments