On Wednesday, January 15, the SNP politician will call on the UK Government to compensate the 26,430 women in Ayrshire, 335,910 in Scotland, and 3.8 million across the UK born in the 1950s who were not given adequate notice that their state pension age would rise from 60 to 66.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had committed maladministration through its failure to adequately communicate these changes.
The PHSO concluded that the DWP should apologise to women affected and pay compensation.
However, the week before Christmas, the Labour UK Government ruled out any compensation to any WASPI women, despite previously supporting them in opposition.
MSP Kenneth Gibson (Image: Newsquest) Mr Gibson said: “After nearly a decade of campaigning for justice and five years waiting for the PHSO report, WASPI women now feel betrayed by the UK Labour Government.
“Without due notice to financially plan, WASPI women had to work years longer than anticipated.
“Many who could not, or retired from work anticipating their state pension, endured financial hardship because they were then unable to access the pension they deserved and had been promised.
“The PHSO report recognised this injustice and called for compensation for affected women.
“The Labour Government’s refusal to abide by this is a scandalous abandonment of their responsibilities as a government.
“They have an obligation to do right by these women: no ifs, buts or maybes.
“I trust that MSPs from across the chamber will come together and unite in our calls for justice for the WASPI women.”
When compensation for the WASPI women was denied last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government “simply can’t afford the tens of billions of pounds” in payments.
He added: “Ninety per cent of those impacted knew about the changes that were taking place.”