Women take pension fight to Westminster
WASPI campaigners to hold demo outside parliament
A group of Renfrewshire women are set to take the fight for pensions justice to Westminster as part of a demonstration marking International Women’s Day.
The women are joining their counterparts within the Women Against State Pension Injustice (WASPI) movement in calling on the UK Government to reverse its decision to implement the increase of the state pension age up to six years earlier than women had been led to believe.
Launching their demonstration on the day the world celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, the WASPI march also coincides with Prime Minister’s Question Time.
WASPI women are fighting against pension changes which they say were introduced with little or no notice and much faster than they were promised.
Affecting women born in the 1950s, the changes mean some women will be left without a pension for years.
Wendy Millar from the Renfrewshire movement said: “The State Pension Acts of 1995 and 2011 affected 3.8 million 1950s-born women with a delay of up to six years and plans for their retirement at 60 in ruins.
“Little or no notice was given to the women concerned resulting in no time to make alternative plans.
“Some women have had to continue working despite suffering ill health and, for many, finances have been severely affected.
“Any savings will have been depleted and life plans shattered.”
The issue is currently being investigated by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
In its first stage report, the ombudsman found maladministration at the hands of the UK Government.
It is now investigating whether this maladministration led to injustice – and if so, how the women involved should be compensated.
Wendy and her Renfrewshire counterparts are being supported by MPs Gavin Newlands and Mhairi Black who will meet WASPI women following the demonstration tomorrow.
Mr Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with the WASPI campaigners since 2015; their refusal to back down in the face of injustice and inequality has been nothing short of inspirational.
“The WASPI women have asked for nothing more than a fair and just process in the transitional state pension arrangements.
“It has been over a year since the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman published their initial determination on the case raised by WASPI women.
“It is long past time that the UK Government took action to follow the PHSO ruling.”
Little or no notice was given to the women resulting in no time to make alternative plans