A soldier who was shot in the face by a sniper in Iraq but went on to become the mayor of his hometown is at the centre of efforts to persuade Prime Minister Andy Burnham to improve care for veterans. More than 80,000 people have signed an open letter demanding a significant upgrade in how the nation supports those who served in the armed forces.
Veterans 'will answer the call'
The letter, organised by Help for Heroes, argues that keeping the country's pledge to veterans will strengthen national security. It states: "In this time of rising global tensions, we need to invest in the people who keep us safe, and this includes our highly skilled, resilient veterans, who will be among the first to answer the call if the nation needs to defend itself."
The letter warns that Britain is failing to deliver on the central promise of the Armed Forces Covenant that "no one would be disadvantaged because they served our nation". It claims that many veterans, especially those who suffered injuries while serving, "are still denied the quality healthcare, financial security and support they need and deserve".
Mayor's call for support
Simon 'Si' Brown, who was shot in the face but went on to become mayor of Morley, said support for veterans could be a "recruitment and retention tool". He was injured on a mission to rescue a stranded vehicle with a crew of six that was under enemy attack.
Mr Brown said: "When someone's renewing their contract with the Government to extend their service, do we want them to ask, 'Is it worth me taking one more risk or have I given enough now?'"
He added: "We still need strong, honest, young, professional people to put on that uniform and be our security when the time comes. But that must be followed up by them knowing they will always matter, they will never be forgotten, and we will never take them for granted."
Healthcare and housing demands
Retired RAF Group Captain Barrie Griffiths, who suffered life-changing spinal cord injuries, said there must be "timely, appropriate healthcare, especially for veterans injured in service, reliable financial and housing support, and better help for families".
Supporter Antony Cotton, who plays Sean Tully in Coronation Street, said: "Our armed forces community, especially our veterans, are the backbone of this great nation and we owe them a huge amount. Those who have served our country should be able to access the support that they need to live well after service."
Government response
A Government spokesperson said: "We will never forget the courage, bravery and sacrifice made by British servicemen and women for their country and we recognise there is more to do to better support them. That is why this government is making record investment in supports for veterans, including delivering the Valour scheme, a £50million UK-wide support service for veterans and their families, helping to improve access to the right support when needed, a key commitment of the veterans strategy."
