The Liberal Democrats and SNP are expected to force a Commons vote in the new year on compensation for 1950s-born women affected by the rise in the state pension age.
Labour rebels believe dozens of backbenchers could vote against the Government, a revolt which could damage the Prime Minister even if it does not see the Waspi decision overturned.
Some describe the Waspi issue as the “last straw” amid mounting frustration over the winter fuel payment cuts and the failure to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall sparked outrage from activists on Tuesday by firmly rejecting the idea of financial redress, arguing that it would not be a “fair or proportionate” use of taxpayers’ money.
I’m a Waspi woman - I’ll never vote Labour again after they denied us compensation
Read MoreThe Liberal Democrats are expected to force a vote on the principle of compensation for the Waspi women. The SNP have also made clear they would make sure a vote was held.
Neil Duncan-Jordan, elected Labour MP for Poole at the 2024 election, said lots of his colleagues are “dumbfounded, angry and disappointed” about the Waspi decision, adding: “Just saying ‘no’ [to compensation] is not a solution.
Brian Leishman, the newly-elected Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, said: “I will vote against the Government if it comes to it. It’s a moral case. It’s a historical injustice.”
Seven Labour MPs on the left of the party were suspended in July after voting against the Government on the failure to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
Several Labour MPs told The i Paper that “dozens” could now rebel on the Waspi issue, even if they were threatened with having the whip removed.
A Labour MP, who plans on voting against the Government, said they expected a big rebellion when the showdown vote comes, but played down reports that as many as 100 could defy the leadership.
Another Labour MP, considering voting against the Government, said: “A relative texted me and said, ‘What have you got against pensioners?’ It’s not a good look.”
One Labour MP said: “I’m not sure the leadership quite understand how furious people are. A lot of the new intake are bewildered by the repeated own goals.”
“You’re seeing the newbie MPs kick off about this because they’re saying, ‘You can’t be this shit and expect us just to suck it up’,” they said.
John McTernan, Tony Blair’s former political secretary, said Starmer had set a “high bar” for dealing with rebellion when he suspended seven MPs after the benefit cap vote.
McTernan added: “With such a large majority Labour should never lose a vote in the whole Parliament – that would show a catastrophic collapse of discipline and authority.”
Experts have also pointed out that such a vote would only be symbolic, even if a majority of MPs did back the principle of compensation.
One Labour source loyal to Starmer’s leadership expects backbench anger over the Waspi issue will “die down” after Christmas.
Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, one of those suspended for six months for rebelling on the two-child benefit cap, said it was hard to say how damaging a Waspi rebellion could be.
Lucy Powell, Commons leader, told BBC Breakfast on Sunday that she “can’t see” the Government revisiting the issue of Waspi women.
“And is it the right use of public money at this stage? Of course I recognise that over many years for these women, they do feel that they’ve been hard done by.
Labour and No 10 have been contacted for comment.
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