John Swinney criticises Anas Sarwar over UK Government Waspi compensation decision

John Swinney has accused Anas Sarwar of putting rhetoric ahead of action after the UK Labour government confirmed it would not provide compensation to women impacted by the increase in state pension age.

UK work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall apologised on Tuesday for a delay in sending letters to women born in the 1950s who would be affected by a change to bring their state pension age into line with men.

But Kendall rejected calls to offer financial payouts to those affected, despite a parliamentary ombudsmen recommending such a scheme be put in place earlier this year.

Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) says 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were not properly informed of the rise in state pension age, meaning many had been unable to properly plan for retirement.

While in opposition Labour made commitments to ensuring women were recompensed. It is believed the government could face a sizeable rebellion over the issue, should it come to a vote in the new year.

The Scottish Labour leader said yesterday that that the UK Government had made the wrong call, adding: “I think they're right in the apology, I think they're right in recognising injustice, I think they're wrong on the compensation.”

Swinney said on Tuesday that the UK Government had “betrayed the millions of women who have spent so many years campaigning for what they are due”.

And raising the issue during that last FMQs of 2024, the first minister accused Sarwar of “rhetoric” over the Waspi women while the Labour party delivers “absolutely nothing”.

Sarwar had been asking about the record number of children living in temporary accommodation this Christmas.

He accused the Scottish Government of failing to build enough new houses, particularly affordable homes, and criticised the higher number of council houses laying empty.

Swinney said despite "14 years of punishing austerity" by the previous Conservative government, the Scottish Government had delivered more new houses per head than any other nation of the UK since 2007.

He went on to say both he and Sarwar agreed on the need to end child poverty and, pivoting to the budget, called on Labour to back it.

He said: “This is where we get to the crunch point, because what we’ll find out in a few weeks’ time is whether Mr Sarwar is interested in a solution or whether Mr Sarwar is just interested in rhetoric, because the government’s budget is going to have to be voted for in this parliament.

“The people of this country have just had an insight into Mr Sarwar’s rhetoric. We’ve seen the rhetoric of Mr Sarwar about Waspi women. The Labour Party, before the election, promised big, bold action on the Waspi women and what the Labour Party has delivered is absolutely nothing whatsoever.

“So Mr Sarwar is in no position to come here and give any of his rhetoric unless he’s prepared for vote for the government’s budget, and help to lift children out of poverty.”