CARDIGAN Guildhall was packed last night (Thursday, July 27) with women from across Ceredigion and their families affected by the UK Government’s state pension changes.

Ceredigion MP Ben Lake, who organised the meeting, is backing the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign which is protesting against the changes made by the government to the state pension age, particularly affecting women born in the 1950s.

Around 5,000 women in Ceredigion who expected to retire at 60 have been told, some of whom with only 18-months’ notice, that they will have to wait up to another six years for their pension.

It is estimated some women will miss out on more than £40,000 in pension payments.

Several women shared their personal stories and experiences during the meeting – many of whom are struggling to make ends meet, and are facing the probability of living permanently below the poverty line throughout their retirement.

Several women noted that, due to long-term health problems, it would be extremely difficult for them to carry on working until the age of 66 but that these changes and the lack of adequate warning from the Government had left them no choice.

Mr Lake said: “This meeting provided an opportunity for local women affected by the state pension changes to come together, hear more about the campaign and hopefully get active in protesting the changes that are being forced on them.

“The more women who get involved in the campaign, the better the chance of ministers taking heed and bringing about fairness for those affected.”

There was a real appetite at the end of the meeting to set up a WASPI Ceredigion campaign group to raise the profile of this injustice among the rest of the thousands of women across Ceredigion affected by these changes.

A similar public meeting will be held for constituents in the north of the county in the next few weeks. For further information about the campaign contact Ben Lake’s office: ben.lake.mp@parliament.uk