Over 100 WASPI women ’have died in 24 hours since bombshell report’ as PM dithers
Angela Madden, who chairs the WASPI campaign which seeks justice over the pension age scandal, says Labour and the Conservatives must commit to a compensation plan fast.
More than 100 WASPI women will have died in the day since a bombshell report said they must be compensated, campaigners warn.
Angela Madden, who chairs Women Against State Pension Inequality, said the tragic figure shows no more time can be wasted in putting the injustice right. On Thursday, a watchdog said over 3.5million victims of the state pension age scandal must urgently receive payouts of up to £2,950.
But those affected say this is not enough, and called on Parliament to back £10,000 compensation packages. Ms Madden, 69, estimates that more than four victims die every hour - the equivalent of more than 110 a day. She told The Mirror: "The average is one woman dying every 13 minutes, which is a sobering thought. We are at that age now, this is why we want the government to do something fast."
She accused the Government of having "no desire" to tackle the injustice faced by millions of women born in the 1950s. "We believe that if Rishi Sunak had the political will he could be solving this tomorrow," she said. "He could solve this before the general election, but we don’t think he will. I believe there’s no desire in Government to do anything about it until their hand is forced."
She said the Tories and Labour must do better and spell out their plans, with hundreds of thousands of votes at stake. And Ms Madden said WASPI would push for the loved ones of women who died to be compensated - but said this is unlikely to happen.
Failures by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) meant millions of women born in the 1950s didn’t know the state pension age was rising from 60 to 65, and then to 66. This plunged tens of thousands into poverty, and tragically an estimated 270,000 women have died without receiving payment or an apology.
Ms Madden said the Government should set aside the funds to pay upwards of £10,000 for those affected. The campaign chief, who quit working at 58 so she could spend more time with her seriously ill mother, said: "We think the government can afford £35billion, and we think £35billion should be set aside to resolve the WASPI issues. And that would be a reasonable amount for a woman who had to sell her family home."
She added: "There are so many women who tell us they have to walk to Tesco at night and see what they’ve got on quick sale in order to make that night’s meal. The stories we hear are just heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking."
Asked if she believes women had died as a result of being able to heat their homes at winter because of the pension scandal, Ms Madden said: "I’m sure it has happened."
Victims have lost an average of £50,000 after the state pension age for women was raised. Many like Ms Madden quit their jobs oblivious to the change, with a large proportion then left struggling to make ends meet.
On Thursday the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman called on ministers to act swiftly and set up a compensation scheme. Ms Madden said the Government can’t repeat the failures of the Post Office and infected blood scandals, which have seen victims waiting for years for justice.
She said: "We are dying. And so we would like this issue to be discussed in the first 100 days of the incoming government, whoever they are, and the scheme set up and operational within the first 12 months and complete paid out within that term of Parliament."
Ms Madden said WASPI will push for the relatives of women who died to be compensated as well. But she said: "I don’t think they’ll be recognised in any compensation scheme, which is very sad.
"I mean, if we have the opportunity, we will ask that question. But at the moment the Government doesn’t want to pay a penny, I just can’t see that changing."
So far neither Labour nor the Tories have said what they will do in response to the report. Downing Street said it was considering the findings and would respond "in due course".
Labour’s Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry said: "I think that it needs to be considered very carefully." But she did not commit to payouts after the election.
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