TOP Tory and part-time referee Douglas Ross has been given the yellow card by constituents who want to know why he’s refusing to back an election pledge to support WASPI women. The Moray MP, who toppled Angus Robertson, posed just days before last month’s General Election with campaigners affected by the pension age change, and promised to “support the WASPI group in Moray as a strong local voice at the heart of government in Westminster.”

Ross, who has at least four pensions, three of them taxpayer funded, has yet to back a parliamentary motion supporting WASPI women.

The SNP’s Mhairi Black was scathing: “Douglas Ross must sign this motion in support of these women — otherwise his actions reek of hypocrisy. He was happy to pose with these women during his election campaign while seeking votes — now he must show a stand against his party’s damaging policy.

“I cannot believe we are still having to argue the case for WASPI women, and that the UK government has failed to listen.

“For the government to say they can’t afford to pay these women what they are owed is laughable. They can find a billion pounds to cling on to power, but they can’t find the money to give women the pensions that they are due.

“These women are guilty of nothing. They have had the misfortune of being female and being born in the 1950s and live under this UK government who refuses to do the right thing.

“This is an issue of equality. The UK government must take responsibility and Douglas Ross must do the right thing for these women who are missing out on their pension.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Tories said: “Douglas Ross has made it clear to the WASPI women and his constituents that he will work with them closely as an MP.

“He doesn’t need lectures from Mhairi Black about how to do this.”

A spokesperson for the WASPI campaign told the National they were disappointed — but not surprised — and that Ross was, in many ways, no different from the rest of his newly elected Tory colleagues.

“We are of course disappointed when people have signed the WASPI pledge and offer to support their constituents,” the spokesperson said.

“Having said that, we are not surprised, many Conservative MPs do still remain loyal to the government.”

Despite this, they added, they were still hopeful of securing a deal: “Because Theresa May no longer has a genuine parliament majority we remain optimistic that more and more Conservative MPs will vote with their hearts and support their constituents”.

WASPI women — Women Against State Pension Inequality — want fair transitional arrangements for women born in the 1950s.

The state pension age is being raised from 60 to 66 by 2020, and they say they knew nothing about the change until it was too late and they were planning on draw down the pension.

Tory minister Guy Opperman sparked fury during Wednesday’s debate when he said the millions of women in their 60s facing cuts, should take up apprenticeships.

Graham Jones, the Labour MP for Hyndburn, raised a point of order, asking: “I’m struggling to hear the debate, did the minister just say that women aged 64 could go on an apprenticeship course?” he said.

What will cause difficulty for the Prime Minister, despite Ross’ loyalty, are the 37 or so Tory MPs who have indicated they will not support the government on the issue.

Northern Ireland’s ten DUP MPs, who have agreed a billion pound deal to prop up May’s minority government, have also indicated that they want the Tories to change policy.

Sammy Wilson from the party, said the DUP were ready to use “influence, however minimal or maximum”.