MP welcomes news that government ditches war widows penalty

South Lakes MP Tim Farron welcomed the government's decision to address an anomaly which meant that a small number of War Widows and Widowers were not receiving their pension entitlement.

This weekend the Government announced that they are is closing the legal loophole which means the bereaved are hit financially if they find another partner.

The move follows a long-running campaign by forces charities and is due to come into place from April. Between 1973 and 2005 armed forces rules dictated that benefits ended when widows remarried or started cohabiting.

Although the issue does not exist for more recent schemes, it is thought about 4,000 widows have potentially been affected. They include people who lost loved ones in action in the Falklands, the Gulf wars and Afghanistan.

Tim said:"I am delighted that the Government have corrected this injustice. Military spouses make huge sacrifices, often spending months apart from their partner, raising a family alone, all the while knowing their partner is in a dangerous location serving our country. It is therefore cruel and unfair that those who become widows and widowers are forced to make a choice between love and the financial security they receive from their military pension.

"I'm delighted that by working with MP's of all parties we have been able to right this wrong."