A DISTRAUGHT father has won the backing of his MP in his fight to secure the same rights for his children as those of a married couple after facing a “huge hurdle” following the death of his partner of 24 years.

Arwel Pritchard, of Pwllheli, lost his fiancée Donna McClelland, the mother of his two children Cian and Danial, to cancer last May.

He was immediately faced with a barrage of red tape and was refused Bereavement Support Payment because he was not married to Donna, an accountant in Porthmadog.

His case has been picked up by Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts, who has accused the UK government of systematic failings and delaying tactics in the way it supports bereaved families.

Earlier this week, she urged the Secretary of State to act on a Supreme Court ruling last summer which afforded an unmarried widowed mother the right to access widowed parent’s allowance for her children.

She asked: “Why should those who decide not to marry, yet are in a loving relationship and have children together, be subject to such discrimination?”

Arwel added: “Family units should all be treated the same regardless of marital status.”

See this week’s Dwyfor edition for the full story, in shops and online now