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Adam slams Labour ‘betrayal’ of nearly 23,000 north-east WASPI women





The refusal of the Westminster Labour government to compensate women left thousands of pounds out of pocket due to pension changes has been slammed.

Karen Adam MSP has hit out at the UK Labour government’s betrayal of WASPI (Women Against State Pension Equality) women as figures from SPICe (Scottish Parliament Information Centre) reveal 16,560 women in Aberdeenshire and 6240 women in Moray may have lost out on pension payments.

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam. Picture: Daniel Forsyth
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam. Picture: Daniel Forsyth

As a result of the DWP’s failure to inform them of changes to the state pension age, it is estimated that a total of 355,910 women across Scotland did not receive money they were entitled to.

Now, following their electoral victory in July last year, the UK Labour government have reneged on their promise to compensate these women. The SNP however continues to call for the WASPI Women to receive the compensation they deserve, doing so again in a Holyrood debate this week.

Banffshire and Buchan Coast SNP MSP Karen Adam also contributed to a debate in the Scottish Parliament recently, where she emphatically called on the UK government to compensate WASPI women.

While pensions are a matter reserved to the UK government, Karen joined WASPI women protesters outside the Scottish Parliament today, showing her support for their cause.

She also voted in the Scottish Parliament to call on the UK government to compensate WASPI women as recommended by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Ms Adam said: “The Labour government’s betrayal of the WASPI Women is utterly shameful.

“As many as 16,560 women in Aberdeenshire and 6240 women in Moray have lost out as a result of a UK government mistake, and many have tirelessly campaigned for decades to right this wrong.

“For the Labour Party – after mere months in power – to break their promise to compensate these women is wrong and an enormous breach of trust.

“The SNP will continue to campaign alongside the WASPI Women for the compensation they deserve. I urge the Labour government to see sense and U-turn on their decision.”


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