Renfrewshire women fighting against pension inequalities vowed they “are not going away” as they took part in Paisley’s landmark workers’ festival.
They were backed by Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP Gavin Newlands in the recent Sma’ Shot Day parade.
SNP man Gavin has confirmed his support for Renfrewshire’s members of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign - born in the 1950s, who face losing out on up to £50k in pension cash.
More than 12,000 women across Renfrewshire are affected, after the 1995 Conservative Government’s State Pension Act included plans to increase women’s state pension age from 60 to 65, then 66 and 67 by 2028 to bring them into line with men.
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It is almost a year since the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman ruled against government in the WASPI battle.
The watchdog ruled that the Department for Work and Pensions was guilty of maladministration in failing to offer adequate notice to 3.8 million women born in the 1950s whose State Pension Age was subjected to a series of changes.
There are approximately 345,000 such women in Scotland.
Since then, the Ombudsman has been investigating whether this maladministration resulted in injustice - and how the women involved should be compensated if it did.
Wendy Millar joint coordinator of Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire WASPI, thanked the Westminster-based politician for his efforts, saying: “Gavin Newlands MP has been a consistent WASPI supporter.
"We are delighted that he walked alongside us in the parade to highlight our campaign for fair and fast compensation and show that we are not going away!
“Mr Newlands also recently confirmed his support for justice for the 6,100 1950s born women in his constituency by signing the WASPI campaign pledge.”
Wendy added: “State Pension changes resulted in 3.8 million 1950s born women suffering a delay of up to 6 years in receiving their rightful State Pension with plans for their retirement at 60 in ruins.
"Some had no choice but to sell or re-mortgage their house whilst others had to continue working, even if suffering ill health.
“Others have had to abandon caring commitments intended to support the younger and elder family members. We are definitely not going away as many of the women affected are struggling and have been badly impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.
"We are asking for justice in the form of fair and fast compensation before more 1950s women die.”
Mr Newlands reaffirmed his backing to the campaign, saying: “It was great to see the Sma' Shot parade back again and I was both delighted and proud to walk with the WASPI women once again.
"That being said, it is galling that these 50s-born women, who we now know were the victims of UK Government maladministration, are still waiting for compensation.
“Whilst we hope that following their helpful stage 1 report the PHSO will find for the WASPI women in the remaining stages of their investigation, it’s important that in the meantime WASPI and their allies, of which I’m proud to call myself, keep up the pressure on the DWP and the UK Government.”
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