I WOULD like to update Journal readers on the progress and plans concerning the Leigh branch of the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign.

The campaign is for ladies born in the 1950s who have to wait up to an additional six years for the state pension they expected to receive at 60, regardless of how many years they have worked and contributed into the NI fund.

We have held several Leigh town centre information giving and awareness raising events, which have been supported by our hugely supportive MP Andy Burnham, and also in neighbouring constituencies within the borough.

We are busy wasps and will be appearing in period suffragette costume at the First World War Battle of the Somme commemorative event in Pennington Hall Park in Leigh on Sunday, from 11am to 4pm.

We will be giving out information as well as asking people to sign a petition which Mr Burnham will hand into Parliament on our behalf in October.

Then on Friday, August 19, again at Pennington Hall Park, we will be hosting a Macmillan world’s biggest coffee morning at Pennington Tea Rooms, from 11am to 1pm.

We are going to be busy baking cakes and goodies for this and will also have raffles, all to raise much-needed funds for this very worthwhile charity.

Please come to support us at both these events and also find out more about our fight to be repaid the ‘debt of honour’ owed to us hard working 1950s-born local ladies.

For more information about our WASPI group or the events e-mail me at patmorgan@btinternet.com.

Pat Morgan

Langford Drive

Leigh