I was delighted to host a meeting of the Newcastle. Wear and Tees WASPI Group at St Mary’s Parish Centre in Sunderland this week.

The Women Against State Inequality (WASPI) campaign aims to achieve fair transitional State Pension arrangements for women born the 1950s – who now face working longer before retirement.

It is totally unacceptable that these women are heading for financial hardship in old age.

The government must reconsider their stance on this important issue and implement fair transitional State Pension arrangements, so that these women get the retirement they deserve.