Rebecca Long-Bailey tore into the government in Parliament, blasting ministers for rejecting justice for 1950s-born women robbed of their pensions.
🕰️ The Waspi row rumbles on
The government is facing a fresh backlash after refusing to compensate the so-called Waspi women – those born in the 1950s who lost out when the pension age was raised.
Campaigners have long argued that they weren’t given enough notice about the change. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman agreed – and advised the government to pay up to £2,950 each in compensation. That would total around £10.5 billion.
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But the government said no. And that includes Labour, despite Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves previously standing with the campaign.
🔥 Long-Bailey pulls no punches
Labour backbencher Rebecca Long-Bailey led a Commons debate on the scandal this week – and didn’t hold back.
“I don’t want [Torsten Bell] to go down in history as the man who denied justice for the 1950s women,” she said. “But at the moment, the arguments being put forward by the government are absurd, to say the least.”
Then she hit with this punchy line:
“In fact, they’re akin to somebody arguing that the world is flat.”
📺🧵Video thread: I led a debate in the Commons calling for urgent financial redress for women born in the 1950s who suffered injustice as a result of DWP maladministration. Huge thanks to all MPs across the House who also supported the women.
— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) July 4, 2025
🧑⚖️ Legal action looming?
Waspi campaigners are now seeking a judicial review to force the government’s hand. They believe ministers are ignoring the Ombudsman’s findings without good reason.
🤷 Government stands firm
Torsten Bell, the new work and pensions minister, responded in Parliament:
“We do not agree with the Ombudsman’s approach to injustice or to remedy.”
That means, for now, there’s no compensation – and no sign of Labour changing its position either.
