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Labour splits over WASPI compensation

(Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Christmas may be just around the corner, but not everyone is in festive spirits quite yet. The mood has certainly soured among the WASPI women campaigning for government compensation over changes to the state pension age. On Tuesday, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced that no payouts would be forthcoming, with costs of up to £10.5 billion not deemed ‘fair or appropriate’ by the Labour lot. Now, Kendall is not only facing backlash from pension activists but from within her own party too.

The now-Secretary of State has been on quite the journey over the issue, as Mr S revealed yesterday, blogging on her own website as recently as 2019 that she was a ‘longstanding supporter of the WASPI campaign’ and that ‘this injustice can’t go on’. Even Sir Keir Starmer himself used the same term to describe the plight of the WASPI women before he secured the top job.

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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