KIRSTEN Oswald has criticised the UK Government's decision to equalise pension ages for men and women.

East Renfrewshire's MP lamented the move – which has caused over 1,000 women in the region to lose thousands in their pension payments – following a meeting with East Renfrewshire WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaigners.

The group has been collecting signatures in support of a national WASPI campaign against pension changes which they say are having an unfair impact on women born in the 1950s.

A petition outlining the women's grievances was presented to the region's MP last week Ms Oswald, who has raised the issue on a number of occasions in Parliament, said: "East Renfrewshire’s WASPI campaigners have every right to be upset and angry with the UK Government on this issue.

"It is a long-held principle that when pension changes occur people should be given the right amount of time to adjust their pension plans.

"It goes without saying that it is entirely unacceptable to change someone's pension age without even telling them."

She added: "Pension plans are made over decades and for the UK Government to accelerate these changes without making the time available for people to change their retirement plans is grossly unfair.

"I will present our local campaigners' petition to Parliament on my return next week."