AN important bill on behalf of a WASPI campaign passed its first reading at Parliament this week.

Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP, Alan Brown took a prominent stance on the issue of state pension age changes affecting women born between April 6, 1950, and April 5, 1960.

Mr Brown’s 10-Minute Rule Bill passed with no objections and its Second Reading is set to go to the floor on Friday, April 19.

Alan Brown MP’s Bill urges the UK Government to publish compensation scheme proposals for the women affected by the state pension age changes.

Cumnock Chronicle: Lynne Paterson and Frances Brown of Ayrshire WASPI presenting Alan and his Office Manager, Margaret Murray, with WASPI Hero Award in August 2023.Lynne Paterson and Frances Brown of Ayrshire WASPI presenting Alan and his Office Manager, Margaret Murray, with WASPI Hero Award in August 2023. (Image: Alan Brown MP)

According to figures, more than 6,500 women in Kilmarnock and Loudoun have been affected by these changes and Mr Brown has worked alongside the WASPI Campaign since he was elected in 2015.

The MP reached out to women in Kilmarnock and Loudoun who have been affected by this and raised some of their cases during the reading of the Bill.

Mr Brown said: “I was pleased to see my 10 Minute Rule Bill pass its First Reading with no objections.

“This is an issue that affects more than 6,500 in Kilmarnock and Loudoun as well as nearly four million across the entire UK.

“My office has been dealing with so many WASPI women and the level of engagement from them ahead of the Bill was remarkable.

“So many got in touch to give their personal account of what they have been through and I raised some of them within my speech – it was impossible to go through them all given the number of emails we had."

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The SNP representative added: “Their stories are heart-breaking and I did my best to raise their voices in Parliament and demand justice is served.

“All three UK-wide parties have been complicit in one scandal or another. Be it the Miners’ Strike miscarriage of justice; Hillsborough; infected blood inquiry; postmaster (Horizon) scandal and WASPI. It should not take a TV drama to force the UK Government to act and deliver justice.

“It has been bitterly disappointing to see the lack of action from the Labour benches, who are supposed to be the main opposition in Parliament – their silence has been deafening.

“I look forward to the Second Reading of the Bill, set to take place in April, and will continue to update constituents on the progress of this.”