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War widows pensions

EDM (Early Day Motion) 280: tabled on 11 March 2020

Tabled in the 2019-21 session.

This motion has been signed by 47 Members. It has not yet had any amendments submitted.

Motion text

That this House honours and recognises the sacrifices that our veterans and their families make; notes the particular sacrifices that the partners of veterans make and the consequences for them of tragically losing a spouse or partner serving in the armed forces; notes the changes announced in 2014 which allowed war widows or widowers that lost their spouse or cohabiting partner in service in the armed forces before 6 April 2005, and had not remarried by 1 April 2015, to retain their war widow pension for life regardless of ongoing relationship status; notes however that this regrettably excluded war widows bereaved before 6 April 2005 that had already had to surrender their war widows pension upon remarrying or cohabiting; believes that this is unacceptable; notes that the only way this group of war widows could regain their pensions is by divorcing their current partners and remarrying them; agrees with the then Defence Secretary who said on 18 February 2019 that this was a burning injustice, Official Report, column 1187; and therefore supports the campaign of the War Widows Association to rectify this anomaly; and urges the Government to correct this injustice by providing equalisation and compensation for the small number of war widows unjustly affected.

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.

In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.

Bottomley, Sir Peter
Conservative
Signed on 12 March 2020
Worthing West
Blackman, Bob
Conservative
Signed on 12 March 2020
Harrow East
Chamberlain, Wendy
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 12 March 2020
North East Fife
Stevens, Jo
Labour
Signed on 13 March 2020
Cardiff Central
Glindon, Mary
Labour
Signed on 14 March 2020
North Tyneside
Robinson, Gavin
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 16 March 2020
Belfast East
Donaldson, Sir Jeffrey M
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 16 March 2020
Lagan Valley
Brady, Sir Graham
Conservative
Signed on 17 March 2020
Altrincham and Sale West
Davies-Jones, Alex
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Pontypridd
Harris, Carolyn
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Swansea East
McMorrin, Anna
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Cardiff North
Elmore, Chris
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Ogmore
Antoniazzi, Tonia
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Gower
Rees, Christina
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Neath
David, Wayne
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Caerphilly
Bryant, Chris
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Rhondda
Evans, Chris
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Islwyn
Morden, Jessica
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Newport East
Jones, Ruth
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Newport West
Davies, Geraint
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Swansea West
Thomas-Symonds, Nick
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Torfaen
Streeting, Wes
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Ilford North
Lucas, Caroline
Green Party
Signed on 17 March 2020
Brighton, Pavilion
Saville Roberts, Liz
Plaid Cymru
Signed on 17 March 2020
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Cooper, Daisy
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 17 March 2020
St Albans
Jardine, Christine
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 17 March 2020
Edinburgh West
Moran, Layla
Liberal Democrat
Signed on 17 March 2020
Oxford West and Abingdon
Whitford, Dr Philippa
Scottish National Party
Signed on 17 March 2020
Central Ayrshire
Dromey, Jack
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Birmingham, Erdington
Duffield, Rosie
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Canterbury
Jarvis, Dan
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Barnsley Central
Howarth, Sir George
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Knowsley
Cadbury, Ruth
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Brentford and Isleworth
Kinnock, Stephen
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Aberavon
Perkins, Mr Toby
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Chesterfield
Mishra, Navendu
Labour
Signed on 17 March 2020
Stockport
Stephens, Chris
Scottish National Party
Signed on 19 March 2020
Glasgow South West
McLaughlin, Anne
Scottish National Party
Signed on 23 March 2020
Glasgow North East
Crawley, Angela
Scottish National Party
Signed on 23 March 2020
Lanark and Hamilton East
Gwynne, Andrew
Labour
Signed on 21 April 2020
Denton and Reddish
Girvan, Paul
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 22 April 2020
South Antrim

There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.