The government has agreed to cover legal costs of £180,000 for the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign, in a move described by campaigners as the Department for Work and Pensions and the Labour Party "backing down at the court steps."
Government U-Turn on Legal Fees
This development follows a commitment made last month by DWP boss Pat McFadden to retake a decision on providing payouts to the affected women. The government had initially refused to act on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's report, which ruled that WASPI women had suffered an injustice due to inadequate notice about changes to their state pension age.
Angela Madden, chair of the Waspi campaign, stated that the agreement to pay the legal costs was a clear sign of the government's retreat. "By failing to take the decision in light of the proper information, they have cost taxpayers money without actually delivering justice for Waspi women," she said.
Compensation Decision Still Pending
However, experts have been quick to point out that this agreement on costs is separate from the core issue of compensation, which is estimated at around £10.5 billion. Steve Webb, the former Liberal Democrat Pensions Minister who helped design the Triple Lock and now works for consultancy LCP, emphasised this distinction.
"Most obviously, the amounts involved are completely different," Mr Webb said. "It’s one thing for a government department to pay legal fees which are significant to the complainant but trivial to the Government. It’s quite another to sign a multibillion-pound cheque." He added that the decision on costs gives no clear indication of what the government will decide regarding compensation in the coming year.
Campaigners Remain Vigilant
While welcoming the "speedy and thorough reconsideration," Angela Madden issued a stern warning to ministers. "The Government should be in no doubt that Waspi stands ready to return to court if it yet again fails to do the right thing," she declared.
A spokesperson for the DWP contested the characterisation of a backdown. "The Waspi campaigners have agreed to withdraw their Judicial Review following our commitment last month to retake the decision. We will retake the decision as soon as possible," they stated.
The government's final decision on whether to award the multi-billion-pound compensation package is now awaited in the new year.
