The campaign for Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) continues to gain momentum as more than £160,000 has been raised through crowdfunding to support legal action for compensation due to governmental changes in pension age. On March 14, 2025, the WASPI campaign's lawyers filed for a judicial review in the High Court, claiming injustice against women adversely affected by the raise in state pension age. The court has acknowledged the receipt of the claim, giving the group seven days to officially serve it against the government.
Following the submission, the government and any involved parties will have three weeks to respond with their legal arguments, outlining their side of the debate. The campaigners are also asking for a ‘cost capping order’ to limit their financial exposure in the case. “We cannot know how much the government is prepared to spend on its lawyers to defend its decision-making,” the campaign noted on their crowdfunding page. They emphasized that legal fees can escalate rapidly, and if they lose, the government stands to recover much more than they can afford. This cost capping would safeguard their financial viability through this crisis.
Angela Madden, chair of the WASPI group, has described the government’s decision to withhold compensation as "unreal," particularly in light of an investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), which recognized injustices due to maladministration by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Madden stated, “Having finally achieved acknowledgement by the PHSO that we have suffered injustice caused by the DWP’s maladministration, we now want to make sure that the government makes the response to the PHSO’s investigation what we and other 1950s-born women deserve.”
This push for compensation comes against a backdrop of mounting frustration within local councils, particularly in County Durham, where councillors recently voiced their disappointment regarding the government's refusal to acknowledge the plight of pension-age women. On March 19, 2025, Durham County Council’s Joint Administration supported a motion tabled by Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes demanding that the government urgently establish a compensation scheme for affected women. Wilkes decried, “Every week more women die without having received their compensation. Every week we have women in desperate need of the money being let down. It isn’t acceptable.”
Compensation discussions have floated around figures ranging from £1,000 to £2,950, based on a previous report by the PHSO. However, last December, the government ruled out any compensation package, prompting renewed calls for accountability. Pregnancies of 1995 and 2011 Pensions Acts raised the state pension age from 60 to 66, impacting around 35,000 women in County Durham alone.
Members of the council have previously highlighted the “historic injustice” imposed upon these women and have noted their attempts to appeal to the former Conservative government for a fair deal. Councillor Elaine Peeke noted the struggle of women, often referred to as the “sandwich generation,” who have been disproportionately affected. "I along with so many other women have lost approximately six years of pension and many had to work a further six years with little or no warning. This happened to me after working for more than 40 years,” she remarked passionately during the assembly.
Criticism of the government's handling of the situation mounted during discussions in Westminster Hall as well. Pensions Minister Torsten Bell defended the governmental stance of not granting redress to WASPI women, stating the government disagreed with the PHSO's recommendations and had reached a different conclusion. However, many MPs warning against the potential erosion of governmental accountability countered the government's reasoning. Rebbeca Long-Bailey, MP for Salford, voiced her concerns: “The fundamental issue here is the accountability of governments. The ability of this place and citizens to hold the government to account when they do something wrong; what we’re seeing happening today is that accountability mechanism, that framework being demolished before our very eyes.”
Syl O’Brien, a local WASPI campaigner, reiterated the urgency of the issue, emphasizing the tragedies of women waiting for pensions they were entitled to. “We have waited long enough. Too many WASPIs are dying and not receiving their hard-earned pension. A lot of the WASPI ladies gave up their jobs to look after ill parents with the expectation of receiving their pensions at 60. They did not know the pension age was to be increased.”
Meanwhile, Labour members criticized previous administrations for inaction regarding the compensation claims, attributing blame to the current government's hesitancy born from glaring public finance gaps. Cllr Angela Surtees proposed an alternative motion, urging the government to address pension disparities once the economy steadied, emphasizing the need for redress in the long haul despite differing priorities from the governing body. Ultimately, the plea to stand by WASPI women solidified support amidst rising calls for justice and accountability across government platforms.
In conclusion, as the WASPI campaign embarks on this legal journey, the collective outcry for compensation persists, revealing not just a quest for financial restitution but a heartfelt demand for recognition and acknowledgment of the struggles these women have faced over the years. The stakes are high and the fight continues, as their claims echo the bold reminder that the ideals of democracy hinge upon accountability and fairness.
