Kay Burley grills Labour minister over WASPI women ‘betrayal’ as Starmer compared to Gregg Wallace

A government minister has defended the decision not to award compensation to women affected by changes in the state pension age during a heated clash with Sky News presenter Kay Burley.

The journalist asked Rushanara Ali who middle-class women of a certain age would find more offensive out of prime minister Keir Starmer or MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace during the confrontation on Wednesday (18 December).

The homelessness minister said the situation was “deeply regrettable” and the women had received an apology but compensation would not be a “fair or proportionate” use of taxpayers’ money.

Repeatedly challenged about previous Labour promises to compensate the women, she said: “I go back to the point about the lessons that need to be learned, and the fact that this government has apologised for that delay.”