Minister left in tears by war widows’ pension plight
EXCLUSIVE
TREASURY chief Liz Truss was moved to tears yesterday by the plight of three war widows as she agreed that their pension loss was a “fundamental injustice”.
Last week the Daily Express revealed that 300 military widows had been robbed of their vital pension entitlement simply because they had remarried.
Since 2015, the Government has permitted new widows and widowers to keep the tax-free war widows’ pension for life, even if they remarried.
But those who found partners before March 31, 2015, have been excluded from the rule, despite it saving the Treasury only £2million per year.
So far our joint campaign with the War Widows’ Association to reinstate their pension rights has won crossparty support – and crucial backing from the Ministry of Defence.
Ms Truss was so moved by widows’ stories yesterday that broke down and wept.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury heard from WWA chairwoman Mary Moreland and remarried widows Maureen Jarvis, 63, and Raqual Harper-Titchener, 43.
Mrs Moreland, 61 – herself widowed when husband John, 37, was killed by the IRA in Northern Ireland in 1988 – said it had been a “very, very positive” meeting.
She said: “Liz Truss sat down and was extremely moved by Maureen and Raqual’s stories, recognising it is a fundamental injustice.
“She was physically moved, she was tearful and has committed to seriously looking at it.
“It was an emotional meeting because both Raqual and Maureen the she
‘The nIGhTMAre WAs jUsT beGInnInG’
DEVASTATED mother-of-two Maureen Jarvis was just 34 when her navigator husband Alan Campbell’s RAF jet crashed in Scotland in 1990.
But when she married council worker Graham Jarvis in 2014 months before the law was changed, she had to give up her pension.
Mrs Jarvis, 63, from Moray in Scotland, is delighted to see the campaign gather momentum.
Yesterday she declared: “I am Graham’s wife but officials need to understand I will also always be Alan’s widow.
“When Alan was killed, I was left with two young sons. A car came to collect me and I was asked to sign a piece of paper before I got in.
“This paper said should I cohabit or remarry that I had to immediately let the Ministry of Defence know.
“I was anxious to see my husband’s coffin so I signed. Little did I know that the nightmare was just beginning.” had time to tell their stories of losing their loved ones and finding new love again.
“Ms Truss is now going to have discussions with the MoD who want it to happen as well.”
Mrs Moreland said a full agreement for the 300 would be the “perfect Christmas present”.
Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson have already agreed to “take on” the war widows’ cases.
And Tory MP Peter Bone said it was “essential” the Treasury pays the 300 widows as soon as possible.
Mr Bone said: “It sounds like one of those things where red tape is getting in the way of doing the decent thing.”
Last night the Treasury said Ms Truss had been “very much moved” by the widows’ plight.
A spokesman added: “The Government recognises the huge contribution that military families have made and continue to make for this country.”