Stephen Morgan MP met veterans and campaigners from the charity Fighting with Pride to discuss the publication of the long-awaited judge-led review into treatment of LGBT+ former serving personnel.
Mr Morgan heard stories from the campaigners of how veterans were subjected to highly intrusive military police investigations, forced to leave the military following false allegations, received blackmail, and in some cases imprisoned and living with criminal records. Many veterans have subsequently reported the detrimental financial and health impact of their treatment.
The City MP said that the government must now deliver on the recommendations from the Etherton Review following the Prime Minister’s landmark apology on behalf of the British state, for the historical treatment of LGBT+ veterans who were sacked or forced out of the military for being gay.
The report makes 49 recommendations that include “appropriate financial reward” to be given to affected veterans; the restoration of medals that had to be handed back on dismissal or discharge; the clarification of pension rights; and the presentation of a special veterans’ badge.
Praised by Fighting With Pride for his ongoing support, Mr Morgan campaigned for restitution for those impacted by the historic ban, successfully introducing a Labour amendment to the Armed Forces Bill which required the Government to conduct an independent review with recommendations for compensation.
Commenting after the meeting, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“It was a privilege to meet with former serving personnel and campaigners who told me their personal stories and some of the awful treatment they and their friends were subjected to over the years.
“Last month’s apology from the Prime Minister was a very welcome first step in a long healing process to correct the historic discrimination of LGBT+ veterans in Portsmouth and across the country.
“Now that the report has finally been published, the Government must now deliver the recommendations with the urgency our veterans deserve.”
Mr Morgan will continue to lobby the Government to accept the Etherton Report recommendations in full and ensure fair compensation and support for those impacted in Portsmouth and across the country. The report is due to be debated in Parliament in the Autumn.
