Dear Sir,
We once again have a Labour government in power who, like those since 1974–79, say they will look after our military veterans – including our current MP, Alan Strickland.
In 1975, Harold Wilson changed the pension structure for the Armed Forces, resulting in veterans receiving less money when they were demobbed. Later, Tony Blair introduced further changes, reducing the pension paid to widows of service personnel from 50% to 33%. By comparison, council employees’ widows currently continue to receive 50% of their partner’s pension.
Mr Strickland visited serving military personnel in Cyprus in July this year, the same location where many veterans served in July 1974 during heavy bombing, in which lives were lost.
I would therefore like to ask Mr Strickland to show his support for veterans by seeking to restore the pension allowance for widows to the previous 50%, in line with council workers.
Name and address supplied.