Tommy Sheppard holding event in Portobello for WASPI women

Tommy Sheppard MP is holding a free event this Friday at Portobello Library when he hopes to meet women affected by pension shortfall – the so -called WASPI women – and offer them advice in tandem with charity Age Scotland.

It is estimated that around 3,000 women in the Edinburgh East constituency have lost out due to the way the UK Government has changed the state pension age.

Following the publication of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report, UK Ministers have so far failed to give a guarantee that they will honour the recommended payments. Labour have also so far failed to make any pledges to commit to pay outs for women impacted. The SNP has been campaigning for those affected to receive full compensation for the estimated 342,000 WASPI women across Scotland, which is the central ask of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign. 

This event on 26 April will set out the ombudsman’s recent recommendations regarding compensation, what the next steps are and also give people a chance to raise issues with their local MP to take these up with UK Ministers.

Age Scotland representatives and Mr Sheppard will give an update for affected women on the situation and also answer any questions to help those affected access additional financial help.

The Edinburgh East MP said: “It’s nothing short of a betrayal that Labour and the Tories are still refusing to join our call to fully compensate the women who have been badly let down by the UK Government.

“The report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman could not have been clearer: the WASPI women were failed by Westminster, and this needs to be put right. 

“I’ll be putting as much pressure as possible on the Tories and Labour to fully compensate the thousands of women across Edinburgh East and the many more across the country.

“One of the most tragic aspects of all this is that thousands of WASPI women across Scotland have already died without receiving justice. I’ve been inspired by the determination of the women who have contacted me on this issue, and I’m determined to continue to do everything I can to support them.”

Katherine Crawford, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive, added: “The rise to State Pension Age left millions of women in great hardship, and WASPI campaigners have been fighting for many years to address this injustice. These women have waited long enough for vindication and can’t afford to wait even longer to be fairly compensated. Now is the time for swift action from the UK Government and Parliament.

“Our helpline advisors will be on hand at this important event to offer information about social security and making sure people are getting everything they are entitled to.”