The Prime Minister must do more for our veterans in the lead up to D-Day 75 commemorations says Stephen Morgan MP.
Today, during Prime Minister’s Questions, the Portsmouth South MP urged the Government to begin recording the number of suicides that take place within the veteran community.
The calls come from the MP amid planning for the D-Day 75’s international commemorations set to take place on the 5 June in his home city.
In relation to his question to the Prime Minister, Mr Morgan said:
“This government must stop turning a blind eye to veteran suicide. Without a quantifiable record, it is impossible to understand the scale of the problem. Our brave ex-service people are being let down.
In response to my question, the Prime Minister’s Government has again kicked the can down the road and refused to offer any glimmer of an answer, showing a complete disregard for the welfare of our ex-service personnel.
At a time when the world will be looking back on the unprecedented sacrifices made by the brave service personnel who set sail from Portsmouth 75 years ago, I want to make sure we are also looking forward to how we can improve services for today’s veterans.
There has been enough talk on this issue now. We need to see action. I want to see the Prime Minister commit to making these changes as a matter of urgency.”
Mr Morgan’s fresh calls on the Prime Minister form part of a long-running campaign alongside veterans’ organisations like All Call Signs and Combat Stress.
Mr Morgan has already hosted roundtable discussions with local and national veterans’ organisations, hosted a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament, written to the new Defence Secretary and had countless communications with the MoD.
Mr Morgan said:
“The ex-leader of the armed forces, the ex-commander of forces in Afghanistan, the Defence Select Committee and the Health Minister responsible have all agreed that we need to see this data recorded. All the government has offered is excuses and refusals.
I am committed to raising this issue inside and out of Parliament until veterans get the respect they have earned.”
Veteran and co-founder of veteran’s organisation All Call Signs, Stephen James has said:
“We are grateful to our MP for again raising this pressing issue in Parliament. These changes were promised around last year’s November remembrance service, here we are at D-Day still without progress.
I would urge the Government to stop wasting time and commit to implementing these much-needed changes.”
Mr Morgan’s commitment to ensuring veterans get the respect they deserve is multi-faceted, the Portsmouth MP has also been seeking assurances from Government that the D-Day 75 commemorations will be worthy of the brave veterans who are set to attend.
This has included meeting with the Government Minister responsible along with senior MoD officials, a meeting with the Director of the British Legion and continued correspondence with the Local Authority and Public Services to make sure it is a day to remember.
