Victoria Collins MP votes for compensation for WASPI women

Last week, Victoria Collins MP for Harpenden & Berkhamsted, voted for a Bill paving the way to give compensation to WASPI women. This follows an independent report that found they had suffered an injustice due to a failure to properly inform them of pension age changes.

Victoria said that she was “proud” to vote for the bill that has the opportunity to right a “gross injustice”. 

She went on to express her “immense disappointment” that Conservative and Labour MPs had failed to back it and promised to “keep fighting” until the 5,060 WASPI women in the local area got the compensation and justice they were owed.

This vote continues Victoria’s long-standing support for compensating WASPI women. She has also signed a parliamentary motion calling for the government to honour the recommendations of the Ombudsman and produce an effective compensation plan, and has questioned the Department for Work and Pensions on what next steps can be taken. 

The previous announcement in December that stated there would be no compensation for WASPI women left Victoria sorely disappointed about the lack of action and acknowledgement of the impact of the lack of communication. 

Victoria is therefore looking forward to seeing the Women’s State Pension Age (Ombudsman Report and Compensation Scheme) Bill progress to its second reading, which is a step closer to WASPI women receiving the compensation and justice they deserve.

Speaking about the vote, Victoria said:

“I was proud to vote for a bill to deliver long-overdue justice for the thousands of WASPI women in Harpenden and Berkhamsted. These women have worked hard and contributed to our society only to be left in financial distress.

“By supporting the WASPI Bill, I am standing with the over 5,000 women across the constituency who deserve recognition and compensation for the injustices they have faced.

“The Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up for the WASPI women at every turn, and keep fighting until they get the justice that they deserve.”