Minister Takáč's plan to boost Slovak food producers sparks debate

In a recent parliamentary session, Sir Keir Starmer faced intense scrutiny over the government's decision not to compensate women affected by changes to the state pension age. This issue, which has sparked significant public outcry, revolves around the proposed £10.5 billion compensation package that the Prime Minister has deemed unaffordable given the current state of the economy. During the session, Starmer acknowledged the communication delays regarding these changes as 'unacceptable' and criticized previous government actions that worsened the situation for women born in the 1950s. Labour's current leaders, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, have shifted their positions since opposing the changes when in opposition, causing discontent among their supporters, notably the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaigners. Meanwhile, Downing Street has made it clear that there are no plans for a parliamentary vote on this issue, with officials asserting that an opportunity to discuss compensation was provided previously in the Commons. This reinforces the government's stance that taxpayers cannot bear the financial burden of compensation, despite calls for justice from various MPs, including independent MP Ian Byrne, who articulated the sense of injustice felt by the Waspi women. The evolution of the Labour Party's response to the Waspi issue demonstrates the complications inherent in political promises and the impacts of economic constraints on policy decisions. As criticisms mount, the question of whether lawmakers will revisit the compensation issue in the future remains uncertain.