Ayrshire MP shows support for WASPI campaigners at Westminster

Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock MP Elaine Stewart attended a WASPI event for newly elected MP.

An Ayrshire MP joined WASPI campaigners at a drop-in session at Westminster.

Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock MP, Elaine Stewart, attended the event for MPs who were elected for the first time in July.

Campaigners highlighted the recent Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman’s report which found the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) guilty of maladministration.

Thousands of 1950s-born women have been impacted by changes to the state pension age by successive governments which were not effectively communicated to allow them to plan for their retirement.

In March, the ombudsman published their final report into changes to women’s state pension age which found that the DWP failed to provide proper information to 1950s women about delays to their State Pension age, that the women involved suffered injustice as a result and that they should receive compensation.

The ombudsman also took the highly unusual step of laying the report before Parliament over concerns that the then-Conservative government would not act on the recommendations.

Following the general election, WASPI representatives have met with new Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds to discuss their case.

Lynne Paterson and Frances Brown, joint co-ordinators of Ayrshire WASPI, said: “It was great to see our local MP among the 150-plus who attended the session.

“She is fully supportive of the thousands of local 1950s women and recognises the injustice we face. I’m sure she will do all she can in Parliament to see that we get the compensation we are owed as recommended by the ombudsman.”

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Hilary Simpson, WASPI national chair, added: “The drop-in session was a resounding success, with a record number of MPs attending.

“We were delighted to be able to speak to them individually, answer their questions and make sure they are fully aware of the need for progress to be made on compensation as quickly as possible following the publication of the ombudsman’s report almost six months ago.”

Ms Stewart did not comment on the event.

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