Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Diane Abbott Excerpts
Wednesday 18th December 2024

(1 day, 19 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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I call the Mother of the House.

Diane Abbott Portrait Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington) (Lab)
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The WASPI women fought one of the most sustained and passionate campaigns for justice that I can remember, year in year out, and we did promise them that we would give them justice. I understand the issue of the cost, but does the Prime Minister really understand how let down they feel today?

Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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I do understand the concern; of course I do. I have set out the history, but the research findings make it clear that 90% of those impacted did know about the change. In those circumstances the taxpayer simply cannot afford the burden of tens of billions of pounds of compensation, but, as I have said, I do understand the concern.