WASPI campaigners are hoping to secure an important meeting in the coming days to set out their demands before the new Labour Government.
The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) group have been promised a meeting with pensions minister, Emma Reynolds, with Ms Reynolds saying they would hold the meeting soon after Parliament returns next Monday, on September 2.
WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden said they are hoping to have the meeting before Parliament disbands again on September 12, for conference season.
This will be the first time the WASPI campaigners have met with a Government pensions minister. They have spoken with shadow ministers from the Labour Party before and were due to meet with former Conservative pensions minister Mel Stride, but this appointment was scuppered when the General Election was called.
Ms Madden said of the meeting: “What we’re hoping for is it’s the start of a productive conversation that will lead to our position being fully understood.”
Ms Madden said they will be setting out their key concerns as well as asking questions of the Labour Government.
She explained: “It’s in the Ombudsman’s report: we didn’t get sufficient information, we weren’t informed correctly of the impact of pensions changes on us.
“The Ombudsman has said we deserve compensation and an apology. That is quite clear.”
Ms Reynolds previously told the Commons she wanted to “consider views that have been expressed on all sides” with regards to the WASPI compensation question.
But Ms Madden said the reality is clear, given the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has published its report finding that there should be compensation payouts.
She said: “To re-examine the evidence is not what we want from the Government right now. The evidence is there, it’s been proven, so what are they going to do about it?”
The campaigners said the Labour Party has had plenty of time to consider the question. She commented: “They’ve had the report since March, the same as the previous ministers had the report in March. It was laid before Parliament so every MP had a look.
“Whether any meaningful work has gone on in identifying what they will do about it or not, we might find out when we talk to them.”
Many individual MPs have previously spoken out in favour of compensation, while the SNP and the Liberal Democrats are supporting the campaign.
One previous MP said the women should get payouts of £10,000 or more.
Ms Madden added: “We want a scheme that’s fair to all WASPI women, for all WASPI women who have suffered from this maladministration.”
