STRETFORD and Urmston MP Kate Green has presented a public petition to the House of Commons, calling for 'fairer' arrangements for changes to the women’s state pension age.

Plans to bring the retirement age for women into line with men by 2020 were fast-tracked by the government in 2011.

Some women born in the 1950s claim this means they have not enough notice of changes and have been unable to plan for their new circumstances, leaving them in serious financial difficulty.

Ms Green has been contacted by many affected women across Trafford who are worried about what the changes mean for them.

Hundreds of Trafford residents have signed the petition which Ms Green presented to the House of Commons on October 11.

Ms Green is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women which supports women affected by the changes. The group works closely with the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign which raises awareness and looks for opportunities to press the government to introduce transitional arrangements for pensions.

Ms Green said:“I was really pleased to present the signatures of hundreds of Stretford and Urmston residents to the House of Commons to highlight this important campaign for justice.

“It's simply not good enough that many women who've worked hard all their lives, will suffer financially because of the government's thoughtless changes to the state pension age.

“I’ve been pleased to support WASPI this year and will continue to do so to make sure their voices are heard by the Government.”