Barrow-in-Furness & District WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaigners are set to protest at Westminster on Budget Day. 

Labour's first budget will be presented on Wednesday with Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealing the party's plans for the economy including taxation and spending.

The Barrow campaign group is urging the Labour government to fulfill its promise of 'righting the wrong' when it was in opposition. 

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In March, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) published a long-awaited report that identified maladministration due to how women born in the 1950s (on or after 6th April 1950 to 5th April 1960) were affected by the changes to the State Pension Age (SPA). 

The report highlighted that many women had lost opportunities to make informed decisions about their finances and future and urged the Department of Working Pensions (DWP) to apologise to these women and compensate them.

Barrow WASPIs previously with suffragette statue in London (Image: WASPI) The PHSO said it was 'taking the rare but necessary step of asking parliament to intervene' but that it cannot 'compel' the government to pay out compensation.

The payouts recommended in the report were between £1,000 and £2,950, which many saw as falling short of the thousands of pounds campaigners were calling for.

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Catherine Williams, 70, asked how long the fight would continue for back in March during an interview with The Mail as hundreds of affected women continued to die every day.

Former Barrow MP Simon Fell with Barrow WASPI Campaigners in 2023 (Image: Simon Fell's Office) The Barrow group had hopes that a new government could offer a 'fair and fast' resolution but so far, still feel aggrieved.

The former nurse paid National Insurance since the age of 16 and said she had lost out on £42,000 by the time she got her pension at 66.

"In the hundred days Keir Starmer has been Prime Minister, 11,000 WASPI ladies have died without receiving their pension," she said.

"Basically both governments are waiting for us all to die so there’s no payout.

Barrow WASPI women in the rain previously at Westminster in the rain with  former MP Simon Fell  (Image: Submitted) "WASPI Barrow had funding from Unison for three of us to go by train to Westminster for a budget day protest which we really appreciate.

"The PHSO (Ombudsman) agreed that there was maladministration and the 1950s women needed compensation. 

"The Tory government dragged their heels and now, two years later, the Labour government, who always stated we needed compensation, are literally doing the same - they should be ashamed.

"The WASPI Barrow group started in 2016 and this will be one of many protests at Westminster."

Barrow-in-Furness MP Michelle Scrogham is planning to meet with the Barrow women in the lobby of the House of Commons at 2:30pm on Wednesday.

Mrs Scrogham said: "I am fully behind the WASPI campaign and will do everything I can to raise the matter in Parliament and with ministers.

"I recently met with campaigners locally and will be welcoming them to the House of Commons on budget day. I back a fast and fair resolution for them."