THE coordinator of West Dunbartonshire’s Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaigners has welcomed a landmark ruling by a parliamentary watchdog.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found last week that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) failed to communicate changes to the state pension age to the required standard.

West Dunbartonshire WASPI coordinator Liz Daly said: “I am happy with the initial findings and my WASPI colleagues are optimistic.

“I retired from my post as principal early education and childcare officer at the end of June, after working for 50 years. However, I will not be eligible to collect my state pension until this December, when I turn 66.

“Our cohort have been some of the most vulnerable to Covid, yet many of us are frontline key workers.

“Too many women died before receiving a penny they had paid in. It’s a national disgrace.”

Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said: “After years of being ignored and dismissed by Westminster, this ruling is a vindication for all the WASPI women in their tireless campaign for justice.

“It’s crucial that the UK Government listens to the Ombudsman’s findings and acts on the recommendations once published in due course.

“My SNP colleagues and I will continue to stand with Scotland’s WASPI women till they secure the fair compensation they deserve.”

A DWP spokesperson said: “Both the High Court and Court of Appeal have supported the actions of the DWP, under successive governments dating back to 1995, and the Supreme Court refused the claimants permission to appeal.

“In a move towards gender equality, it was decided more than 25 years ago to make the state pension age the same for men and women.”