Campaigners who are battling to convince the UK Government to provide compensation following changes to the state pension were out in force during the Sma’ Shot Day parade.
Members of the Women Against State Pension Injustice (WASPI) campaign were joined by local politicians who have pledged their support to the cause.
We previously reported that, two years ago, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) ruled the Department for Work and Pensions took too long to inform thousands of women born in the 1950s that the age they could draw their state pension was increasing.
Since then, PHSO has been investigating whether this maladministration resulted in injustice and, if so, how the women involved should be compensated.
Wendy Millar, co-coordinator of the Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire WASPI, told The Gazette: "WASPI groups have been persistent since campaigning started in 2015 and are determined that our fight for justice will have a positive outcome for all.
"Group members are now contacting MPs asking them to write to the Ombudsman specifically with points prepared by our co-campaigners WASPI Inequality, including the need to take proper account of lost opportunities to make different financial decisions and to make recommendations for compensation for 1950s-born women generally that are fair, can be put into place rapidly and are straightforward for everyone.
"We are grateful to all MPs who support our campaign by walking alongside us during marches, by regularly raising the issue in Parliament and who are now writing to the Ombudsman highlighting the sense of urgency in completing the investigation.
"Special thanks to Gavin Newlands MP for joining us during the parade again and to Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, and Neil Bibby MSP who joined Gavin in support of the WASPI group."
Fellow campaigner Kathleen Birney said: "The dedication of the WASPI campaigners over so many years demonstrates the sense of injustice we all feel.
"Sma' Shot parade gives us the opportunity to, just as the weavers of 1856 did, highlight the lack of fairness to ordinary folk.
"The impact of the changes to the pension age with little or no warning on 1950s women has been dreadful.
"Thank you to all politicians supporting the campaign and especially to Gavin Newlands MP for always walking alongside us in the parade."
Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP Gavin Newlands added: "I was delighted and proud to walk with the WASPI women once again at the Sma' Shot parade. However, it remains disappointing that these 50s-born women are still awaiting the appropriate compensation.
"At present, the PHSO are re-examining parts of the stage 2 report, before they publish their final response. It is important that whilst this takes place, WASPI and their allies, of which I'm proud to call myself, keep up the pressure on the DWP and the UK Government."
For more information about WASPI, visit https://waspiscotland.uk/ or email waspiglas73@gmail.com.
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