WEST FIFE campaigners looking to reform pension inequality for women are taking the fight to Edinburgh tomorrow (Friday) to protest outside the Scottish Parliament. 

The West Fife Woman Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) group will be joining other women from all over Scotland in a “noisy” demonstration over changes to the pension age. 

Campaigners say that some women in West Fife have been left virtually penniless because they were left unaware that they wouldn’t receive their state pension until six years later than they expected. 

Maralyn Donnelly, member of the West Fife WASPI group, told the Press: “For woman born in the 1950s, they only realised that their pension age was changing when they were nearing 60. So many women were giving up work and then discovered that they wouldn’t get anything for several years. 

“My husband and myself spent five years living off our savings as a result. I know some women that have been left virtually penniless while they tried to fill the gap.

“The inaction of different governments since 1995 has left us angry. We want the government to acknowledge their faults and bring in some sort of transitional agreement. They don’t appear to be listening to us but we want them to see that we are not going away.”

A march will also take place at Glasgow and protests have been taking place across the UK. 

Mrs Donnelly continued: “When I went back to work in the ‘70s it was frowned upon. Many women took on low paid, part-time jobs at that time and I wasn’t even allowed to join a pension scheme until 1989. 

“The government told us to save for our retirement and now we have had to use that money just to survive. The SNP, Labour and Greens have all supported us in our fight but the Conservatives think they can just ignore us. 

“That’s why we’re going to get noisy on Friday and inform people of our struggle.”