The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has publicly challenged the portrayal of a recent development in the long-running dispute with WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaigners. This follows an announcement from the campaign group that it had secured a significant agreement with the government.
Clashing Narratives Over Judicial Review
In what it called an "important update," the WASPI campaign stated it "has won an agreement with the Government" that provides the best chance for a swift resolution. The group said this agreement would hold ministers to account if further legal errors are made.
However, a DWP spokesperson directly countered this framing, stating: "This is a mischaracterisation, the WASPI campaigners have agreed to withdraw their Judicial Review following our commitment last month to retake the decision." The department emphasised its intention to "retake the decision as soon as possible."
Key Terms of the Paused Legal Challenge
Despite the disagreement over terminology, the practical outcomes of the paused judicial review are clear. The government has made several commitments to the court:
- To complete its reconsideration of the case within 12 weeks, unless a very good reason for delay is provided, which would then be open to court scrutiny.
- To consider the entire decision afresh, taking into account all relevant evidence, not just material previously withheld from the minister.
- To pay over half of WASPI's legal costs, providing the campaign with resources to potentially relaunch a challenge if the new decision contains legal flaws.
WASPI's Stance and Future Action
WASPI campaigners argue their legal action has already succeeded in exposing the full evidence considered by the Secretary of State in her December 2024 decision to reject the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's findings of maladministration. They state it revealed serious DWP mistakes, including a failure to provide key research to the minister.
Angela Madden, Chair of the WASPI campaign, said: "Yet again, WASPI has held its nerve and yet again, virtually at the steps of the court, the Government has backed down... Today's agreement on speedy and thorough reconsideration is welcome."
She issued a clear warning, however, adding: "The Government should be in no doubt that WASPI stands ready to return to court early in the New Year if it yet again fails to do the right thing." The campaign insists there must be no more delays or denials regarding the injustice suffered by women born in the 1950s due to changes in the state pension age.
The campaign also thanked its supporters and donors for their continued funding, which enabled the legal challenge to proceed to the eve of its court hearing.
