A WHARFEDALE MP has pressed Defence Minister Mark Lancaster about War Widows Pensions.

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West, who is leading the Justice for War Widows campaign in conjunction with the Wharfedale & Aireborough Observer, raised the matter in the House of Commons this week.

Mr Mulholland had met Mr Lancaster at the Ministry of Defence in mid-June after leading a protest at Westminster by war widows - including Otley resident Susan Rimmer - and their MPs.

Mrs Rimmer lost her first husband, Private James Lee, to a terrorist bomb in Northern Ireland shortly before their first daughter was born.

But currently she, and up to 300 other women in a similar position who remarried between 1973 and 2005, do not receive any pension from the Government.

Mrs Rimmer and her second husband, David, joined Mr Mulholland for his talks with Mr Lancaster.

Addressing the Minister in Parliament this week, the Otley MP asked: "I thank the Veterans Minister for taking account of the plight of war widows who have been penalised for remarrying.

"Can he give us some idea of how long his review of the matter will take?"

Mr Lancaster responded by saying he hoped to report back as soon as possible.

Commenting afterwards, Mr Mulholland said: "We had a useful meeting with the minister and I welcome that he is looking into the matter.

"I look forward to hearing from him soon on the work that he is doing on this issue.

"We must restore the war widow pensions that were unjustly taken away from so many women.

"The sooner we can overturn this injustice, the better.”

The campaign petition can be signed at change.org/p/ministry-of-defence-justice-for-war-widows .