MEMBERS of the Gloucestershire and Cotswolds WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) will be campaigning at Cirencester Outdoor Market on Friday from 9am to 3pm.

WASPI campaigners are calling on Cotswold parliamentary candidates to support their cause on behalf of women across the county suffering financial hardship as a result of the lack of notification of Government pension changes.

The changing of the pension age for women from 63 to 66, to be put in place in October 2020, was done with little to no notice by the Government, according to the group, with protests aiming to bring about a ‘transitional payment’ to women born after April 6, 1951 to help bridge the gap until state pension age.

Parliamentary candidates will be asked to sign a pledge in support of WASPI in Parliament, if elected.

Maud Lomberg, co-ordinator of WASPI Gloucestershire and Cotswold, said: “3.5 million women have lost out, unfairly, because of the maladministration of pension changes introduced by successive governments.

“30,000 in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds.

“Our votes could significantly impact the election results, and we hope that our WASPI Local Day of Action will ensure that our local general election candidates sit up and take notice.”

The WASPI campaign has over 64,000 supporters and 140 local groups across the UK.

It represents almost 3.5 million women born in the 1950s who have been affected by the lack of notice of the changes, Several Local Days of Action organised by the campaign are due to take place before the end of May across the country.

Maud and other WASPI women will also be at Moreton-in-Marsh Outdoor Market from 9am to 3pm today (Tuesday, May 23).