Will Oldham Labour keep their promise to WASPI women now the Government has abandoned them?

Oldham Liberal Democrats will try and force the Council to support the WASPI pensions campaigners at the next full council meeting (09/04/25).  Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) are the campaign group for women impacted by the 1995 and 2011 Pensions Act, which saw the state pension age for women rise from 60 to 66.

Saddleworth West and Lees representative, councillor Alicia Marland who will propose the motion said, “As a result of poor communication by successive governments, tens of thousands of women across the country lost out, forcing many into poverty.”

According to House of Commons Library data more than 11,600 WASPI women across Oldham Borough stand to lose out on compensation after the new Labour Government decided to ignore the independent ombudsman’s assessment and go against their long-held policy to support WASPI women. It is estimated that the compensation owed to impacted women across Oldham Borough would be a minimum of £11,642,500.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “The Labour Party in Oldham has always said it believes in justice for WASPI women.  The Liberal Democrats are still campaigning for that justice.  But will Oldham Labour keep their promise to WASPI women now the Government has gone back on its word?”

The Liberal Democrat motion calls on the Chief Executive of the Council to write to the Department of Work and Pensions asking for the ombudsman’s decision to be upheld.  The Liberal Democrats are also calling on the Borough’s three Labour MPs and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand up to the Labour Government over WASPI women.