Campaigners have written to the new prime minister and his chancellor to ask him to make good on the PM's promise of a meeting to discuss redress, saying they would look for a pragmatic solution that is fair to the affected women and the public purse.  

Last month, during the Makerfield by-election, Andy Burnham told Women Against State Pension Inequality campaigners that he would discuss redress for delays in how women's state pension age changes were communicated.  

At a Manchester Evening News hustings, he reportedly said: "I stick by the campaigns that I support. I stuck by the Hillsborough families. I'll stick by the Waspi women because they deserve some recompense for the unfairness.” 

Burnham's aides later rowed back suggesting he meant transport subsidies rather than the compensation recommended by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which could cost over £10bn, depending on how it is applied. 

Waspi chair Angela Madden has now written to the PM and chancellor, pressing them to urgently meet with campaigners to ensure 1950s-born women receive “fair redress”. 

“We were grateful to receive personal assurances from Andy during the Makerfield by-election that addressing this injustice was something he was committed to carrying out," she said.  

“For far too long, Waspi women have been let down by governments of all colours and are understandably desperate to see this long-running injustice put right. Waspi, and millions of others, are hoping Andy can turn this around." 

She added that the group are “absolutely determined to find a solution that is fair to both affected women and the taxpayer”. 

In June, Burnham was reportedly critical of politicians who had backed the campaign in opposition, only to abandon it once in government. Senior Labour figures who supported Waspi before the election include Angela Rayner and Yvette Cooper, and, according to the i Paper, Ed Miliband, Wes Streeting and Lisa Nandy, along with the now ousted Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, and the former work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall. 

The last government acknowledged and apologised for maladministration but twice declined to pay compensation; the second time this was done by Pat McFadden, who continues to head up the Department for Work and Pensions. A further claim for judicial review by Waspi is currently underway. If won, it would force the government to take the compensation decision again. 

The leaders of the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru have expressed support for Waspi.