Is the government's decision over Waspi women's pension compensation brave or shortsighted?

I have a few thoughts about the government’s refusal to pay compensation to Waspi women for the failure of previous administrations to properly inform them about the significant increases to the state pension age for women.

First, if this proven maladministration had been by a bank or private sector institution, my hunch is that regulators and courts would have compelled the payment of significant compensation with minimal requirement for claimants to prove direct loss (think of the colossal sums banks paid out for mis-selling PPI insurance).

The ability of the government to just say no is a striking contrast.

Second, the emotional distress and hardship suffered by many older women was accepted by the ombudsman, but is not deemed by the work and pensions secretary to merit financial compensation.

Third, this is the second time in its short life that the Starmer government has chosen to alienate an important group of pensioner voters.

This is either brave and farsighted or not.

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