Local campaigners are celebrating the success of a campaign to make sure all war widows receive a pension.

Government rules mean that those who lost a husband or wife between 1973 and 2005 lose their War Widows Pension if they remarry or cohabit with a new partner whereas those on more modern schemes do not. Official figures show that 4,200 people are affected by this.

David Cameron has said he will close this loophole in changes to the Armed Forces pension schemes to be introduced next year.

Earlier this year Dudley MP Ian Austin worked with local Members of the War Widows Association to raise concerns with Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.

Ian Austin said:

“I’m delighted that the government will close this loophole so that widows and their families have long-term financial stability.”

“I believe we owe our Armed Forces, past and present, an enormous debt of gratitude.”

“It was completely unfair that some war widows were losing out on pensions just because their spouse died at the wrong time, so I’m glad this will be put right.”