A total of 149 Labour MPs could be at risk of losing their seats following the Government’s refusal to compensate WASPI women, campaigners have suggested. An analysis shows 303 MPs across the country have majorities smaller than the number of WASPI women living in their constituencies.
Many are seats won by Labour for the first time in over a decade. Angela Madden, chairwoman of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), said: “These results are a seismic blow for ministers and make grim reading for anyone who thinks they can take the votes of an entire generation of women for granted. The failure of Labour to compensate WASPI women – and indeed some opposition parties in properly challenging their decision – undermines the public’s confidence in our institutions and creates a significant electoral risk.
“With women affected by the Department for Work and Pensions failures now forced to haul the Government before the High Court, ministers must stop defending the indefensible – we need justice now.”
At least 149 Labour constituencies see the number of WASPI women outnumber the size of their majority. Just 16 of them have publicly criticised the Government's decision.
Senior Labour ministers most at risk of a backlash at the ballot box include Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Office minister Jess Phillips.
The analysis, for WASPI, suggested newly elected Labour MPs representing coastal towns and Red Wall seats are most vulnerable to a collapse in support, likely benefiting Reform.
Nearly 50 Labour MPs have publicly hit out at the Government’s decision not to compensate WASPI women following a statement and apology in Parliament from ministers in December.
Sir Keir Starmer was previously accused of betraying women affected by changes to the state pension age by using them to get elected.
The Prime Minister came under fire in December when Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall rejected calls for 3.8million affected individuals to be given £1,000 and £2,950 each in compensation.
WASPI campaigners last month confirmed they had filed for a High Court judicial review following the Government’s decision, citing inconsistencies in their response.
A government spokesman said: “We do not comment on live litigation.
“We accept the ombudsman’s finding of maladministration and have apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.
“However, evidence showed only one in four people remember reading and receiving letters that they weren’t expecting and that by 2006, 90% of 1950s-born women knew that the state pension age was changing.
“The Government cannot justify paying for a £10.5billion compensation scheme at the expense of the taxpayer.”
The table below includes constituency, the name of the MP, the party, the majority at the last election, the number of WASPI women and the difference between the two.
At least 16 MPs below have spoken out against the Government's decision, although it is understood many have done so privately.