SCOTTISH Labour’s depute leader Jackie Baillie has said she is “very disappointed” with the UK Government’s decision not to compensate Waspi women.
Labour’s Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said on Tuesday that the women born in the 1950s who were not made sufficiently aware about changes to the state pension age would be offered nothing beyond an apology.
Earlier in 2024, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said affected women should get between £1000 and £2950 each in compensation as changes to their state pension age were not adequately communicated.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar told ITV Border that he did not think his party bosses had made the right decision.
Now Baillie has put out a strong statement saying she does not support the move either.
Posting that she was “very disappointed” on Twitter/X, she shared a statement saying: “I have been proud to support Waspi women and have worked very closely with those in my constituency who have been affected, as well as serving as a former convener of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on Waspi women.
“I want to be very clear that an injustice has been done to these women and, while the pension changes had an impact on all women, some will have suffered severe detriment as a result.
“Whilst I understand the financial constraints under which the UK Government finds itself operating, I think a blanket approach which denies compensation to any women is the wrong thing to do and I do not support this decision.
Baillie said she had raised concerns with UK Labour colleagues and would continue to “push for justice” for Waspi women.
Sarwar said he felt a “different way forward” could have been found by the UK Government.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said his response confirmed Labour’s “branch office manager in Scotland” holds no sway over the Labour Government’s decisions.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has insisted Sarwar understands difficult decisions must be made in government.
He said policy differences between Scottish Labour and the Labour-run UK Government are to be expected as it is “the way devolution works”.
“He understands the position of being in Government and he will do what he needs to do in terms of the position he wants to take in terms of the Scottish Labour Party because that’s the way devolution works,” said Murray.
Labour ministers have also been accused of not understanding the devolution system after Kendall told the SNP to step in and compensate Waspi women in Scotland, despite the powers to do so being reserved.
Questioned by SNP MP Kirsty Blackman, Kendall deflected by saying: “If the honourable lady wants a different approach, then the Scottish, the SNP Government in Scotland can do a different approach using the £4.9 billion settlement we have provided, the biggest ever in the history of devolution, if they want to take a different approach.”
SNP figures have, however, since highlighted that the 2016 Scotland Act appears to make it impossible for them to do so.
Section 28 of the act, which creates powers for Holyrood to legislate for new benefits, specifically omits pensions – which are a wholly reserved area.
