Next week, the United Kingdom’s Parliament will host a pivotal debate on financial redress for an estimated 3.6 million women born in the 1950s who were adversely affected by the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) maladministration of the State Pension age changes. This parliamentary session, scheduled for Thursday, July 3, 2025, marks a critical moment in the ongoing campaign led by Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), a movement fighting for compensation and justice for these women.
The debate was confirmed by Bob Blackman, Chair of the Backbench Business Committee, during the weekly “Business of the House” session in the Commons in mid-June. It comes in the wake of a High Court ruling earlier this year that found the WASPI case “arguable” and deserving of a full hearing, signaling that ministers may be compelled to reconsider their stance on compensation.
WASPI’s campaign gained fresh momentum on June 23, 2025, when the High Court approved a costs capping order, a legal safeguard that significantly limits the financial liability of the campaign in its judicial review against the UK Government. This order caps WASPI’s liability for the government’s legal costs at £60,000, while the government’s liability for WASPI’s legal costs is capped at £90,000. The agreement protects both sides in the event of losing the case, allowing the judicial review to proceed without the threat of crippling legal expenses.
Angela Madden, Chair of WASPI, hailed the costs capping order as a “major milestone” and a “vital step forward” in their legal battle. She emphasized, however, that while the cap limits potential liabilities, the actual legal costs remain substantial. “Our expert legal team is showing they can and do win victories against the government but it takes time and forensic presentation of our evidence, and that costs money,” Madden said. “This is the fight of our lives and we can’t win it without public support.”
The judicial review challenges the UK Government’s refusal to implement a compensation package recommended by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). The Ombudsman’s report, released in 2024, found that maladministration had occurred due to the way the State Pension age changes were communicated to women born in the 1950s, and recommended compensation payments ranging from £1,000 to £2,950.
Despite acknowledging the maladministration and apologizing for a 28-month delay in notifying the affected women, the government rejected the Ombudsman’s compensation proposals in December 2024. Officials cited the potential cost to taxpayers of up to £10.5 billion as unjustifiable, a decision that has sparked widespread criticism and intensified the campaign for redress.
A DWP spokesperson reiterated the department’s position, stating, “We do not comment on live litigation. We have apologized for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women. However, we do not agree with the ombudsman’s approach to injustice or remedy and that is why we have decided not to pay compensation.”
WASPI’s campaign has been bolstered by a surge of parliamentary support, as revealed by a new interactive tool launched by the group in early June 2025. The tool maps the UK-wide stance of Members of Parliament (MPs) on the compensation issue, showing that 179 MPs have publicly criticized the government’s refusal to compensate the affected women.
Among these, 56 Labour MPs have openly condemned Downing Street’s failure to provide justice, while dozens more are believed to support the campaign behind the scenes, including several senior ministers. The analysis also highlights near-unanimous backing from smaller parties such as the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, the Scottish National Party (SNP), the Green Party, Plaid Cymru, and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Additionally, about a dozen Conservative MPs have reaffirmed their support for compensation in recent months.
Despite this strong cross-party coalition, WASPI campaigners note that 134 MPs who previously supported calls for compensation have not reaffirmed their stance since the Labour Government’s announcement in December 2024. The figures do not include serving government ministers or whips, at least 80 of whom have previously pledged their support.
The campaign’s political advocacy is further strengthened by the State Pension Inequality for Women All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), chaired by Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey. This cross-party group is among the largest in Parliament and has vowed to continue pushing for justice for WASPI women.
In the lead-up to the parliamentary debate, WASPI has been actively engaging supporters through its newly launched website, which offers resources to write to MPs and join the campaign for as little as £15 per year. The website also features the interactive MP support map, providing transparency and encouraging public involvement.
The legal battle itself is complex and demanding. Earlier this year, WASPI’s lawyers submitted thousands of pages of evidence and detailed legal arguments to support their case. The High Court’s approval of the costs capping order came after WASPI applied directly to the court, following the Government Legal Department’s initial refusal of such an arrangement. WASPI’s legal team provided four detailed witness statements and hundreds of pages of supporting documents to demonstrate the public interest and complexity of the case.
The court hearing to decide on the costs capping was scheduled for June 23, 2025, but the government conceded at the “eleventh hour,” allowing the case to proceed without the risk of bankruptcy for the campaign. WASPI described this as a “massive step forward,” but reiterated the importance of continued public support to cover ongoing legal expenses.
The stakes are high for the women involved. The changes to the State Pension age, which raised the retirement age for women born in the 1950s, have caused significant financial hardship for many, disrupting retirement plans and livelihoods. The campaign’s push for compensation is not just about money; it is about recognition of the injustice and the government’s accountability.
Looking ahead, the parliamentary debate on July 3 will provide a platform for MPs to discuss the issue in detail, potentially influencing government policy and public opinion. Meanwhile, the judicial review is set to reach a full hearing later in 2025, where the evidence and legal arguments will be thoroughly examined.
As the UK prepares for these crucial developments, the campaign reminds the public that the fight is far from over. With legal costs mounting and political battles ongoing, WASPI continues to call on supporters to donate and help ensure that the voices of millions of women are heard and their rights upheld.
In the broader context, people on the New State Pension are on track to receive monthly payments of £971 from April 2026, highlighting the disparity faced by those affected by the earlier maladministration. The WASPI campaign’s efforts underscore the ongoing challenges in pension policy and the importance of fair treatment for all retirees.
Whatever the outcome, the July debate and subsequent legal proceedings will be closely watched as a test of government accountability and the power of grassroots campaigns to challenge policy decisions impacting millions of citizens.
