Rishi Sunak says Tories will honour Veterans pledge as he hails Armed Forces
The Prime Minister said the Conservative Party will meet the Help for Heroes veterans pledge
Rishi Sunak has vowed to honour the Help for Heroes veterans pledge, describing those who serve in our Armed Forces as the “best of Britain”.
The Prime Minister said the Conservative Party will meet the pledge, which demands three key commitments to support veterans and their families and end the ongoing injustices they face.
Firstly it calls for the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, led by a Cabinet attending minister, to be maintained.
The pledge also demands that an independent review of the medical discharge process is commissioned and also that veterans get the benefits and compensations they deserve.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Armed Forces Day celebrations, the Prime Minister, said: “The women and men who serve in our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain.
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“They put their lives on the line for us, and their display of duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice are an inspiration to us all.
“It should be the first responsibility of any Government to support those who defend us. It’s why it’s so important that we get defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, and also why we must continue our mission to make the UK the best country in the world to be a veteran.
“In an increasingly dangerous world, our service men and women play an ever more critical role in keeping us safe. We each owe them and their families a huge amount, and on Armed Forces Day I pay personal tribute to everything they do for us and our country.”
Johnny Mercer, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, said: “On this Armed Forces Day, I want to personally thank all our brave armed forces, both serving personnel, veterans and their families. They all play a vital role in the security of our nation, which is becoming increasingly perilous.
“We are the only party which has committed to the Help for Heroes Veterans’ Pledge showing that, whilst others pay lip service to veterans, we are firmly on their side. Sir Keir Starmer on the other hand can’t match our veterans’ pledges, protect old veterans from being hauled before juries nor back our defence spending increases.
“Only the Conservatives have a clear plan to support our Armed Forces and secure the future of our country. Don’t vote to let Starmer put us all in danger from Downing Street.”
Help for Heroes Chief Executive, James Needham, said: “We are delighted Rishi Sunak has listened to us and our supporters by signing our Veterans Pledge on Armed Forces Day.
"This includes vital commitments and a step closer to ending the daily injustices veterans and their families face.
“Over this election campaign, the UK’s political leaders have all outlined the importance of veterans and members of the Armed Forces – but we have outlined three crucial areas the next Prime Minister needs to address if they are to improve the lives of veterans and the Armed Forces community: to keep a Cabinet-level minister protecting Veterans’ Affairs; launch a review into the chaos over medical discharges; and ensure all veterans get every penny of the support they deserve.”
