Another day, another drama. Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has finally confirmed that the WASPI women will not receive pension compensation. The decision comes after women born in the 1950s began campaigning to be reimbursed for a previous rise in the state pension age, with activists claiming millions had not been adequately informed of the changes.
Kendall has today said that the ‘great majority of women knew the state pension was increasing’, adding that a pay out costing up to £10.5 billion would not be ‘fair or proportionate’ – although she did accept that there had been a delay in sending letters communicating the changes. But Kendall’s firm stance on the matter now may come as a surprise to those who knew the Labour politician in 2019.
Kendall’s own website reveals that she was once an ardent supporter of the WASPI cause, posing for pictures with campaigners and even writing a sympathetic blog in their favour. In the post written five years ago, the Labour MP called herself a ‘longstanding supporter of the WASPI campaign’, adding:
As a result of changes made in 2011, women across the UK are now suffering financial hardship – with 3300 women affected in Leicester West alone! This injustice can’t go on. I have been a longstanding supporter of the WASPI campaign and I was proud to meet WASPI women again in parliament recently to sign their pledge and reaffirm my commitment to support their campaign.
How times change, eh?
Not that Kendall is the first in her party to make such an obvious volte face. Sir Keir Starmer himself has a well-documented history of U-turns on matters from green pledges to trans issues to Margaret Thatcher. The lefty lot just can’t quite seem to decide what they stand for these days…
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