BARROW members of a protest group are returning to Westminster to demonstrate against delays to their compensation following a state pension battle.

Women Against State Pension Injustice (WASPI) have led a campaign for all women born in the 1950s who were hurt by the State Pension age increase - first to 65, then to 66 in line with the age for men.

According to the group, 3.8 million women were affected by what an Ombudsman investigation described as ‘failings’.

The campaign group says the treasury has saved itself over £3billion by not offering compensation.

In 2021, the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman ruled that the Department for Work and Pensions was guilty of maladministration in failing to give proper notice to 3.8 million women born in the 1950s whose State Pension Age was subjected to a series of changes.

Since then the Ombudsman has been investigating whether this maladministration resulted in injustice - and if so, how the women involved should be compensated.

In an investigation into the affair, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has now moved to the third stage of its review into how DWP communicated these changes to women. The result of this report is set to be announced early in 2024.

Resolute on intensifying their fight for compensation, the WASPI women have arranged their next gathering, ‘The 1950s Women’s National Rally’, at the Millicent Fawcett statue in Westminster, London, next week.

READ MORE: Barrow WASPI group will 'never give up' despite suffering defeat in 2020

The Barrow and Furness WASPI group will join several groups of women from all over the UK at the rally.

Six women from the Barrow group are travelling by train on Wednesday March 8 which was chosen by organisers as it falls on International Women’s Day. They will gather outside Westminster after Prime Minister’s questions. 

WASPI women hope that this will once again bring public attention to what they see as ill-treatment at the hands of the Department for Work & Pensions.

In 2020, Barrow members Cath Williams, Pat Molyneux, Teresa Salt and Christine Taylor met Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell along with more than 60 other MPs who headed to parliament to join a protest rally.

READ MORE: Simon Fell MP signs WASPI pledge

Mr Fell, who has always pledged his support for the Barrow group, will join the WASPI women once again in their protest, the group has said.

In support of this occasion, Barrow Town Hall Clock will be lit purple that evening alongside the Hoad Monument at Ulverston.