CAMPAIGNERS today branded a government decision not to compensate women affected by the way changes to the state pension age were communicated “bizarre and totally unjustified.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the government does not believe paying a flat rate to 1950s-born women who lost out on the support at a cost of up to £10.5 billion would be a fair or proportionate use of taxpayers’ money.

In a statement, she said that “most women knew the state pension age was increasing and that letters aren’t as significant as the [Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman investigation] says, as well as other reasons, have informed our conclusion that there should be no scheme of financial compensation…”

Ms Kendall has previously been seen with campaigners at a parliamentary event holding up a sign saying: “I will work with Waspi to identify and deliver a fair solution for all women affected.”

Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) chairwoman Angela Madden said: “The government has today made an unprecedented political choice to ignore the clear recommendations of an independent watchdog which ordered ministers urgently to compensate Waspi women nine months ago.

“This is a bizarre and totally unjustified move which will leave everyone asking what the point of an ombudsman is if ministers can simply ignore their decisions.

“It feels like a decision that would make the likes of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump blush.”

She described an action plan to avoid such mistakes in future as “an insult both to the women” and to the investigation previously carried out by the ombudsman into how changes to the state pension age were communicated.

Ms Madden said: “An overwhelming majority of MPs back Waspi’s calls for fair compensation and all options remain on the table.

“Parliament must now seek an alternative mechanism to force this issue on to the order paper so justice can be done.”

The government said it has accepted the ombudsman’s finding of maladministration and has apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.

There were shouts of “shame” when Ms Kendall made the announcement in the Commons.

Labour MP Brian Leishman said he was appalled at the decision, telling the Commons: “I have campaigned with Waspi women, as have many parliamentary colleagues, and this is an incredible let down.

“Waspi women, in my opinion, certainly do not need words of disappointment and they certainly do not need hollow statements. What they need is justice.”

Former Labour leader and current independent MP Jeremy Corbyn said the decision was disappointing.

“First, the government cuts winter fuel [and] now this,” he wrote on X.

“Whose side is the government on? Waspi women have been disgracefully cheated out of their pensions — and they deserve justice.”

Independent MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, co-chairwoman of the all-party parliamentary group on state pension inequality for women, said the government’s apology was “not enough.”

Ms Long Bailey said the APPG found huge numbers of women suffered “significant financial hardship.

She told the Commons: “[Ms Kendall] must realise that an apology is welcome but it’s not enough for them and, frankly, it’s unprecedented for a government to agree with the findings of an ombudsman on the one hand but to refuse to initiate redress when clear injustice has occurred.

“So to those women who have lost everything, what will [Ms Kendall] say to reassure them today?

Ms Kendall replied: “I understand the concerns [Ms Long-Bailey] raises but I just reiterate the finding from the ombudsman’s report that there was no direct financial loss and we agree that those letters should have been sent out earlier, we will learn all the lessons in order to put that right.”

SNP work and pensions spokeswoman Kirsty Blackman said that the announcement “is a devastating betrayal of millions of women who spent years campaigning for justice.

“Having been let down for so many years by successive Tory governments there was a sense that Labour might finally live up to their promise of ‘change,’ but instead Labour has confirmed that they will betray those women and pull yet another shady Westminster trick,” she said.

Jan Shortt of the National Pensioners Convention said: “Waspi women have today been betrayed by Liz Kendall who says she needs to save taxpayers money by not offering them compensation. She also said that earlier notice would not have made any difference.

"We beg to differ.  Earlier formal notice would have allowed all women to make informed decisions about their income, work and pension.  It would also have enabled women to consider the impact not just on themselves, but on their families.

"Waspi women campaigners have our full support and we will be there whenever they decide the next step in their fight for justice.  Liz Kendall should be mindful that she has made an error of judgement and take the opportunity to put it right."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he understood the concerns of the Waspi women but the government had to protect the taxpayer.