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| Parliamentary Candidate Terry Scriven at this year's Brighton Conference |
Terry Scriven, Prospective Member of Parliament for the New Forest East constituency, has used a major conference to highlight the plight of those who served with the Armed forces who have not been properly looked after by the government.
Speaking at the Federal Conference of the Liberal Democrats at Brighton, Terry made a very strong plea for the government to fulfil obligations to ex-service men and women who had often fallen on hard times. This often followed distinguished service for the country, both during war and peacetime operations.
He said “ The Nation owes a huge debt of gratitude to these people. We need to remember this and ensure that they are properly looked after”.
Read the full Speech...
Speech to conference-Autumn 2007 - Liberal Democrat New Forest East prospective member of Parliament calls for independent inspectorate to ensure reasonable standards of duty of care are achieved and maintained for armed forces
This is not about scoring political points, it is about getting a fair deal for our Service people. There are however a few messages in this age of strange political groupings for Gordon (Gordon Brown) Des (Des Brown), Bob ( Bob Ainsworth) and Dave (David Cameron), - Sounds like a pop group.
On the 14th September the Daily Telegraph reported: ‘Bob Ainsworth the Armed Forces Minister says, ”Fulfilling the Covenant is not always easy and takes time and money”.
As a caseworker for SSAFA Forces Help in the New Forest, you realise there is a real need for support. For example, I recently dealt with a case of a Falklands veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Unable to work and due to insufficient benefits was on the poverty line. A veteran from the battle of Casino who lost a leg there at the age of 21, now in his 80s is unable to afford nursing home fees. A widow of a Korean War veteran unable to make ends meet and is in distress. The list is endless that both SSAFA and the Royal British Legion have to deal with.
Bob – it is time to wake up. The Blair/Brown Government has been there since 1997. How much time do you need?
A message to Dave – when you support the Covenant at your conference remember this - it was the Thatcher/Major Governments who failed in their duty of care of our veterans from the Falklands, Northern Ireland and the First Gulf War. Many still need our help today.
Let us not forget the Cold War. There were no medals for deployment of our troops on the Inner German Border or for the defence of the River Weser. Yet hundreds of our troops died or were injured in field deployments known as exercises.
The grieving and the sorrow suffered was no different for their families. The hardship was no different for those disabled by their injuries. Their needs are no exercise.
Bad accommodation, inadequate equipment, deficiency in care, delays in Inquests, delays in compensation, inadequate compensation and inadequate support for families. This has not just happened – many cosy cats in comfy corners, over a number of decades, must accept responsibility.
Finally. Let me say thank you to the Royal British Legion for publicly highlighting the problems. We as Liberal Democrats should, I believe, call for the establishment of an independent inspectorate to ensure reasonable standards in respect of duty of care are achieved and maintained. This Inspectorate should report to a cross party Parliamentary Committee with teeth.
The Government must now find time and money to meet the current needs of our Service personnel, our ex Service personnel and families.
Gordon, Des, as line managers it is time to have a chat with Bob without coffee. |
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