AFTER a barrage of hostile fire from press and public, the Ministry of Defence has backed down over the Brad Tinnion case. But it has not gone far enough.

Bombardier Tinnion was killed during an SAS raid to free British hostages in Sierra Leone. He died a hero, yet the State has treated his partner shamefully. Instead of automatically issuing Anna Homsi with a full war widow's pension, the MoD offered her a one-off payment of £20,000 and a grant for their baby daughter Georgia of £2,000 a year until she was 17.

This pitiful sum left Anna facing the miserable prospect of having to sell her home. And all because she and Brad did not marry.

Following a national outcry, the men from the ministry have come back with an increased offer: £250,000. This payment is an admission they got it wrong, although they stress it is unique and will not set a precedent for similar cases.

Miss Homsi is now considering what to do. The cash would give her more security, but it is not nearly as much as a married woman would have received.

No one would criticise her for taking the money. Fighting the Whitehall machine while continuing to grieve for Brad and bring up Georgia is a heavy load to carry.

But if ministers think this issue will go away, they are wrong. Whatever Miss Homsi chooses to do, she has exposed discrimination within our Armed Forces. Until this is ended the MoD will be challenged again and again.

Half the couples in long term relationships are not married. That will leave many soldiers about to go in to battle in Afghanistan with something else to worry about - the financial future of their dependants should the worst happen.

This is unacceptable. The Armed Forces must draw up new rules that reflect a changed society. It is time they joined us in the 21st century.

Updated: 10:27 Tuesday, October 30, 2001