The WASPI debate in Westminster Hall left us in no doubt of the obvious concern of MPs who spoke. That concern was not only because WASPI women have been denied justice by the Government, but that the direction of the Ombudsman has been ignored. At the end of the debate, its sponsor Sir John Hayes said “I sincerely hope that we will get a parliamentary vote on this issue, and I will use every endeavour to ensure that we do. The WASPI women deserve better than the explanation we heard today, which was essentially somewhere between, “We’re not sure that their case is justified, because we think that most of them did know,” and “We can’t afford it even if their case is justified.” Frankly, neither of those arguments will wash…. I end with Winston Churchill, because I can do no better. He said: “There is no worse mistake in public leadership than to hold out false hopes soon to be swept away. The British people can face peril or misfortune with fortitude and buoyancy, but they bitterly resent being deceived”. This is deceit—nothing less, nothing more.” You can watch the debate here:
