Months after Worcester City Council passed a motion with cross-party support to back the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign, the Labour government has announced it will not support compensation for the affected women.
The motion, introduced by Liberal Democrat Councillor Sarah Murray, highlighted the devastating impact of state pension age changes on women born in the 1950s. It passed with cross-party support, including backing from Labour councillors demonstrating a shared understanding of the significant injustice faced by these women.
Cllr Murray’s motion argued that these changes have not only had a profound effect on the individuals directly affected but have also created a ripple effect throughout the Worcester community. Women unable to retire as planned have been less able to care for older relatives or partners, increasing the strain on local social care. Many women left in poverty are struggling with housing costs, while voluntary services have lost active retirees who could have contributed to local initiatives. In addition, Worcester’s local economy has suffered from the reduced spending power of women born in the 1950s.
It is estimated that over 3,000 women in Worcester alone have been impacted by these changes, many of whom are now facing financial hardship due to the lack of adequate notice and support.
The council agreed to support a swift resolution to the injustice, including the All-Party Parliamentary Group’s recommendation for an immediate one-off compensation payment to affected women and a formal apology from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The council also called for an urgent parliamentary debate on the recommendations. At the time, Lynn Denham City Council Leader and Labour group leader said: “Changes to pension age is just one of the injustices visited against working women” and suggested that other parties should be the ones to apologise for this. Now Sir Keir Stammer has described WASPI women as a “burden on the taxpayer”
The council further mandated its Managing Director to write to local MP Tom Collins, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and the Leader of the House of Commons. The letters outlined the effects of the injustice on the Worcester community and called for urgent action. However, it remains unclear whether Tom Collins took any action or how the government responded.
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Worcester, Mel Allcott, criticised the government’s inaction and called on Tom Collins to explain his role. She said: “The council sent a clear and united message to Westminster months ago, supported by residents across Worcester, yet the government has chosen to ignore it. I want to know: what did Tom Collins do to support the council’s motion? If he didn’t act, why not? And if he did, why has the government ignored him? The WASPI women deserve justice, and our city deserves answers.”
Acting Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Karen Holmes, pointed to the disconnect between central and local government. She said: “This motion was supported by councillors from across the political spectrum, including Labour. Worcester’s councillors recognised the huge social and economic impacts of this injustice, yet central government has chosen to ignore us. The disconnect between local Labour councillors and the Labour government in Westminster could not be starker. This refusal to act undermines trust in politics at every level.”
Councillor Sarah Murray reiterated the urgency of resolving the issue: “This is not just about individual women; it’s about the far-reaching impact on our local services, economy, and community. The government must act swiftly to address this injustice before more women die waiting for the compensation they are owed.”
The Worcester Liberal Democrats have vowed to continue advocating for Waspi women in the city.
