Today I met with Women Against State Pension Inequality campaigners to discuss the on-going call for fair transitional arrangements for those affected by pension changes.

It is totally unacceptable that these WASPI women are heading for financial hardship in old age just because they were born on or after 6 April 1951.

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

WASPI campaigner and Sunderland resident Moira Scales was one of those who joined me today. She said:

“Our generation wasn’t given enough notice of pension changes to change our financial plans. A great many women have been left without the money they were promised.

“We are determined to continue fighting until we get justice and transitional payments. We were not informed early enough of pension changes, and didn’t get time to plan for them.”

Pensions Minister Guy Opperman suggested earlier this year that WASPI women could take up apprenticeships to help tide them over until the new retirement age.

The suggestion caused outrage at the time and Moira added: “It was absolutely insulting. We shouldn’t be victimised just because we were born in the 1950s.”