Alison Bennett joins calls to support WASPI women

Lib Dem MP for Mid Sussex, Alison Bennett, has joined more than 100 MPs from across Parliament in demanding the Government finally do the right thing for WASPI women and bring forward compensation proposals.

Women born in the 1950s were seriously financially harmed after changes to the State Pension age were introduced without adequate notice, leaving many facing hardship and debt through no fault of their own. Despite the Ombudsman’s clear findings, the government has turned its back on millions of pension-age women, a move the Liberal Democrats have branded disgraceful.

A cross-party letter, drafted by Alison’s Lib Dem colleague, Steve Darling MP, and signed by over 100 MPs, urges ministers to stop dragging their feet and bring forward compensation proposals without further delay. Liberal Democrats say successive governments have repeatedly let down WASPI women and are now compounding that injustice by forcing pensioners to pay the price, despite clear and independent recommendations for fair compensation.

Alison Bennett, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Sussex, said: “I have heard from many women in Mid Sussex who have suffered a clear injustice through no fault of their own as a result of the WASPI scandal.

The fact that the government continues to ignore the Ombudsman’s recommendations, adds insult to injury for these women who have already been so let down.

After years of successive economic failure regarding WASPI pensions, it is disgraceful to now ask pensioners to pay the price.”

In the letter, signatories are calling for ministers to review their previous stance on WASPI compensation, as they did with Winter Fuel Payments, Personal Independence Payments and inheritance tax relief on agricultural properties.

Reflecting on this, Alison Bennett explained: "Liberal Democrats have long pushed for fair competition, and now is the moment for the government to change course. We have seen successive U-turns from the government over the last eighteen months when they realised that they were wrong. It is only fair that they finally now do the right thing for WASPI women in Mid Sussex and beyond.

The cross-party letter to the Secretary of State can be read here.