Andy Burnham Rules Out Direct Cash Compensation for Waspi Women, Offers Alternative Benefits
Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor and Labour leadership hopeful, has ruled out backing financial compensation for Waspi women after facing backlash over the cost. Burnham had previously appeared to support compensating up to 3.6 million women born in the 1950s who claim they were inadequately informed about changes to the state pension age. The reversal highlights the political tension Labour faces over a cause many of its MPs championed in opposition but the party declined to act on in government.
Andy Burnham walked back apparent support for compensating Waspi women on Thursday, with a spokesperson clarifying he considers the case for financial compensation closed following the government's decision not to act on a 2024 parliamentary ombudsman ruling. Burnham had told a Makerfield by-election hustings on Wednesday that he would 'stick by the Waspi women' and that they 'deserve some recompense for the unfairness,' comments that were widely interpreted as backing compensation. His spokesperson subsequently said he was instead open to non-financial gestures, pointing to Greater Manchester's model of providing early access to concessionary travel for affected women. The government has estimated a flat-rate compensation scheme would cost up to £10.3bn and argued most women were aware of the pension age changes. Waspi campaigners contend that many women only discovered their state pension age had risen by several years — from 60 to 66 — after already leaving work, due to inadequate government communication. The episode underscores a broader discomfort within Labour, where many MPs publicly backed the Waspi cause during opposition but the party has not delivered compensation since taking office.
How coverage differed
The Guardian provided substantially more detail and direct quotes, framing the story around Burnham's apparent U-turn and the broader Labour tension over the Waspi issue. The Financial Times headline referenced a 'Labour backlash' as the driver of Burnham's position, placing slightly more emphasis on internal party pressure rather than the policy substance.
What different sources said
Andy Burnham rules out paying compensation to Waspi women
- Financial TimesCenter
Andy Burnham rules out cash for Waspi women after Labour backlash
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