I had wanted my next update to be details of the Police Minister's announcement. Petitions can only be updated once in a 24 hour period as a rule. I am instead going to use this update to share with you MP Richard Graham's press release. There have been articles in circulation regarding the Chancellor's announcement on Wednesday. There has been speculation regarding which widows and widowers will benefit from the campaign. Such speculation is damaging to the working relationship that we have worked so hard to cultivate with the Home Office. Mr Graham's press release is celebratory in tone, and I suggest that we pay attention to what he has to say as the individual that secured the Adjournment Debate on our behalf. City MP Richard Graham is delighted that the government has agreed to resolve an historical injustice to police widows and widowers “I am delighted for police widows and widowers!” said Gloucester MP Richard Graham, after the Chancellor announced in the budget yesterday changes for police widows and widowers subject to the police pension’s regulations 1987. Currently all lose their pension if they remarry or cohabit, or keep their pension if they stay single. From now on they will no longer be penalised. This means that the government has accepted the case made by the Gloucester MP in a Westminster Hall debate 3 weeks ago for the government to respond positively to former PC Colin John Hall’s widow Cathryn Hall’s petition. Richard said “the whole point of a long-term plan is that a stronger economy enables the government to improve people’s lives: and this righting of an historical injustice to about 900 police widows/widowers is a small but important example of social justice that we can afford. I am delighted for Cathryn, Sharon Jones, Julie Shadwick (Sharon and Julie are from Gloucestershire) and all the other widows and widowers affected”. The details of the settlement will be announced by the Police Minister shortly. We have been praised for our dignified conduct throughout this campaign and I am proud beyond words of our achievements so far. Keep up the good work and believe only what you read in the settlement when it is announced by the Policing Minister. Cathryn