Labour refuses pay out for women affected by pension age changes

The government has been accused of a “bizarre and totally unjustified decision” – after rejecting compensation payments to women born in the 1950s who were not properly warned that their pension age was being increased – dubbed the WASPIs.

Ministers said the total bill could amount to £10.5 billion pounds – so would not be fair.

But critics – including Labour MPs – said ministers had set a “worrying precedent” by ignoring a clear recommendation by the parliamentary ombudsman that compensation should be paid.