Press Release

13th May 2026

The WASPI campaign released the following announcement today.

WASPI women launch fresh legal case following historic Labour election losses

• WASPI campaigners have confirmed a fresh legal challenge following the Government’s continued refusal to deliver compensation
• This legal action follows the local election results, with WASPI women outnumbering MP majorities in 302 constituencies
• The campaign warns that continued failure to support compensation could prove catastrophic at the next general election

WASPI CAMPAIGNERS have confirmed they are proceeding with fresh legal action against the Government, following local elections in which Labour lost nearly 1,500 council seats.

The announcement comes as WASPI women are found to represent a significant voting bloc in hundreds of marginal constituencies across the country.

New analysis reveals that in 302 out of 650 UK constituencies, the number of WASPI women exceeds the sitting MP’s majority, nearly half of all seats in Parliament.

Over 1.7 million WASPI women live in these most marginal seats, with 51 constituencies where the MP’s majority is under 1,000.

Among the 302 at-risk constituencies, 142 are held by Labour MPs (including Lab/Co-op), 97 by Conservatives, and 29 by Liberal Democrats.

With WASPI women and their families forming a significant voting bloc, campaigners warn that the Government’s continued denial of large-scale injustice and refusal to deliver compensation could prove politically devastating.

The new legal challenge follows the Government’s rejection of the Ombudsman’s findings of maladministration and proposals for compensation – a decision taken despite ministers acknowledging they had not been properly briefed by officials and agreeing to review their position following an out-of-court settlement in December 2024.

WASPI’s legal team sent a judicial review pre-action protocol letter citing “multiple legal errors” in the Government’s response to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

The Government’s reply failed to address WASPI’s concerns, paving the way for a return to the High Court, though the campaign continues to urge the Government to think again.

Dozens of Labour backbenchers have already broken ranks to support compensation, with others also expected to voice support during the King’s Speech debate.

Research shows 72 percent of the voting public support compensation for WASPI women impacted by the Department for Work and Pensions’ proven maladministration.

Angela Madden, Chair of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign, said:

“The Government has had every opportunity to do the right thing for WASPI women. Instead, they have made a political choice that risks alienating voters in hundreds of marginal seats across the country.

“Labour MPs have seen the electoral data. They know WASPI women have the numbers to unseat them. Yet ministers continue to ignore the independent Ombudsman, their own backbenchers, and millions of voters.

“After losing nearly 1,500 seats in the recent local elections, the party now has a clear choice: listen to WASPI women and compensate them fairly or face the consequences at the next general election. We will not be ignored, and we will not give up this fight.”