INVERCLYDE women fighting against state pension inequality are going on the march.

Campaigner Elizabeth McQuarrie is urging the local candidates standing in the general election to pledge their support and walk with them at a Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) rally in Glasgow later this week.

As many as 4,000 women in Inverclyde have been affected by the decision to raise the state pension age, which they say was implemented unfairly.

SNP candidate Ronnie Cowan has vowed to join them as they protest against the changes.

Retired Greenock woman Mhairi Irving, 62, is one of the women affected and has joined Elizabeth’s campaign.

She said: “I have never been involved in anything like this before — I just think it is very unfair the way it was introduced.

“No one was given a chance to plan and take account of the changes.

“We are standing up for all women, we have paid into a system and we are losing out.”

The national campaign was started by women born in the 1950s who have been adversely affected by the rise.

They have fallen victim to an acceleration in the timetable and could lose up to £35,000 as a result.

Another of the local ladies who will be on the march, retired civil servant Rosemary Kelly, said: “It has taken a lot for me to come along and do something like this. But I feel so strongly about it.”

Westminster poll hopeful Mr Cowan says he is happy to continue backing the pension fight.

He said: “We have raised this time and again in Westminster.
“I am right behind the Waspi women.”