TWO Inverclyde campaigners have slammed the Labour government's failure to address the challenges faced by the so-called WASPI women in this week's budget. 

Pam Armstrong and Sandra Reynolds, who are both WASPI campaigners and SNP councillors in Inverclyde, have spoken out after Chancellor Rachel Reeves did not mention the Women Against State Pension Inequality group's continued battle for compensation in her announcement of the government's spending plans on Wednesday. 

Ms Armstrong and Ms Reynolds have themselves missed out on payments running into tens of thousands of pounds due to the increase in the state pension age for women. 

Since being set up by five women in 2015, the WASPI group has been lobbying the government on behalf of women who were affected by changes imposed by the 1995 and 2011 Pension Acts, which increased the state pension age to 66.

Councillor Pam Armstrong said she was "extremely disappointed". (Image: Newsquest) Ms Reeves announced dedicated cash pots to compensate victims of the infected blood and Post Office 'Horizon' scandals, but there was no mention of anything similar for the WASPI campaign - something which Cllr Armstrong said left her "extremely disappointed".

She said: "For it not to be mentioned was a slap in the face. 

"They should be saying something about it, and giving us some indication that they're listening to us, but it's just silence.

"It's not acceptable, and is hugely disrespectful to women who have worked their whole lives and raised families."

Councillor Armstrong said she understands the Labour government faces a difficult situation as it seeks to fill a £22bn fiscal black hole, but says she doesn't believe that pensioners, large families, and WASPI women should have to plug that gap. 

She is now calling for the UK government to make an announcement about when compensation will be paid. 

She added: "They have admitted that there was maladministration and when in opposition, the Labour party seemed to be saying that women should be compensated. 

"The new government don't seem to be doing anything about it.

"Many women have been very badly affected and left in situations where they can't get a divorce settlement or a mortgage. 

"I am not a WASPI woman who is in a desperate situation but many women are.. 

"The longer it drags on, more WASPI women will die.

"No other group in society has been treated like WASPI."

Councillor Sandra Reynolds said she feared the Labour government was hoping to kick the issue into the long grass. (Image: Newsquest) Councillor Reynolds said it's 'disappointing and disgraceful' that WASPI women were not mentioned in the budget. 

She added: "It seems that after making promises about paying WASPI women compensation, that the Labour government are kicking it into the long grass and hoping it will go away. 

"Money has been allocated for other maladministrations, but not for WASPI. 

"I think it is scandalous."

Ms Reynolds hit out at Inverclyde MP Martin McCluskey, and highlighted that a motion asking for 5,600 local women to be compensated was backed unanimously by councillors in May. 

She added: "I am disappointed but not surprised that Inverclyde's own MP has not stuck up for what he voted for in a council motion. 

"He is not representing the women of Inverclyde, Scotland, or the UK who are suffering due to this."

Councillor Reynolds said the lack of WASPI engagement in the budget is part of a wider, attitudes towards women

She added: "It's not just about the maladministration. This is built on decades of inequalities around pay and career opportunities, it's not just about the change in age. 

"The WASPI women will not give up. We will keep lobbying. 

"I want to see see MPs supporting WASPI with a loud voice and stand with them. 

"We have to persuade the Labour government to reconsider its position and do the right thing."


(Image: Newsquest) Mr McCluskey responded: "I’m disappointed that some people are playing politics with such an important issue. 

"It does not serve well any of the thousands of women affected who the government are constructively engaging with."

Mr McCluskey says he met with WASPI campaigners from Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West who had travelled to London on Wednesday to meet them at a demonstration outside parliament. 

He added: "I was pleased to hear that the WASPI campaign welcomed the increased engagement that has been happening between the UK Government and WASPI campaigners, including a meeting between the Pensions Minister and the national WASPI chair. 

"This is the first time in many years that the government has engaged with WASPI and I'm pleased that the Labour government has made that happen.

"The issues raised in the Ombudsman's report are significant and complex and they require serious deliberation.

"Once that work is complete, the government will set out its approach."

The Labour MP said budget is one of the most 'redistributive' budgets that has been seen in a generation. 

He added: "This budget makes fair choices and does not raise taxes on working people - meeting the commitment we made to people during the election."