Story perspectives

Burnham Backs WASPI as Starmer Rejects £10 bn Pensions

6/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

Andy Burnham pledged at the Makerfield hustings to support Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI).
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommended £1,000-£2,950 payments to each of 3.6-3.8 million women, totalling over £10 billion.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to fund the scheme, arguing taxpayers cannot bear the cost.
WASPI launched a fresh legal challenge and welcomed Burnham’s backing as political leverage ahead of the by-election.

History

Historical Context

The 1995 Pensions Act, introduced after the Goode Report on pension abuse, set the timetable to equalise women’s and men’s state-pension age at 65 by 2020. The 2007 Act accelerated this, moving women’s age to 65 in November 2018, prompting today’s debate where the DWP estimates 3.6 million women will face delayed benefits costing about £10 billion.

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Story summary

Andy Burnham pledged at the Makerfield hustings to support Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI).
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recommended £1,000-£2,950 payments to each of 3.6-3.8 million women, totalling over £10 billion.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to fund the scheme, arguing taxpayers cannot bear the cost.
WASPI launched a fresh legal challenge and welcomed Burnham’s backing as political leverage ahead of the by-election.

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