A WHARFEDALE MP is vowing to continue his campaign for war widows in 2017.

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) pushed the case for all war widows to receive compensation with the Government throughout 2016.

The current rules mean that about 300 women who lost their husbands in service and then remarried between 1973 and 2005 cannot claim a pension.

Those include Otley resident Susan Rimmer whose first husband, Private James Lee, was killed in Northern Ireland in 1972.

In June Mr Mulholland was joined by Mrs Rimmer and her husband, David when they met Defence Minister Mark Lancaster to call for the rules to be changed.

Mr Lancaster has since, in response to a Parliamentary question from Mr Mulholland, said he was "sympathetic to the circumstances of this group of widows" and that he has asked Ministry of Defence officials" to continue to consider potential options”.

Mr Mulholland, who is pursuing the Justice for War Widows campaign in conjunction with the Wharfedale & Aireborough Observer, said: "I welcome the response from Mark Lancaster.

"He has given a clear indication that he remains sympathetic on this issue and has asked his officials to look at possible solutions.

"We have an obligation to take care of the families of our Armed Forces personnel, yet 300 women around the country had their compensation unjustly taken away from them.

"I will continue to work with ministers on this issue with the hope of winning back some form of compensation for these women."

Wharfedale Observer Group Weeklies News and Production Editor Jim Seton added: "It is commendable that Mr Lancaster is sympathetic to the issues faced by war widows but as we enter 2017 we would urge him to push forward with real, demonstrable change on this issue.

"Many families in our district are missing out because they are not allowed to claim a pension despite the fact that their loved ones faithfully served our country."

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