Lest we forget
Today we honour the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.
This morning, I am joining the Annual Remembrance Parade hosted by Blackpool Sixth Form’s Protective Service students and on Sunday, I stood at the cenotaph and laid a wreath to pay my respects and those of every Blackpool South resident. In Parliament’s Remembrance Garden, a tribute has been planted to honour all those gave their lives for us and those who continue to do so from Blackpool. These moments are deeply personal to me.
My grandad Dougie Webb served in the Second World War, bravely fighting fascism across Europe. Today and often, I think of the millions of brave souls like him who selflessly answered the call of duty to serve and protect our country.
Over the past year, I have had the privilege of taking part in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. The scheme aims to give MPs and Peers without experience of our Armed Forces an insight into military life that would not otherwise be available to them. It has allowed me to spend time directly with members of our Armed Forces – not in a briefing room, but on bases, training facilities and stations across the country.
These experiences have only confirmed my respect for our Armed Forces. I visited the home of vital intelligence and surveillance work at RAF Waddington as well as the UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham. At the end of the month I’ll be visiting the RAF’s largest operating base at Brize Norton. I’ve met engineers, pilots, medics, apprentices, cyber specialists and logisticians who keep our forces operating at home and across the world.
What struck me most was not just the skill, professionalism and the extraordinary capability of our armed forces but the humility, quiet sense of duty and the absence of ego among our military personnel. There is a recognition that service is not about the individual, but about the country, the community and the person beside you.
These encounters have strengthened something I already believed – remembrance is not passive. It is a responsibility.
When my grandad and other servicemen returned from WWII, they expected a fair deal and in 1945 it was a Labour government that made sure they got one. A welfare state, a National Health Service and homes for heroes made up a package of support that recognised service was something to be respected, not forgotten.
It’s shameful that our veterans haven’t been given the same dignity and respect in more recent decades. Now, more than ever, we understand the impact of war on individuals who return home, but support was stronger for them 80 years ago.
I am proud that this Labour government is renewing our commitment to our heroes. The first duty of any government is to keep the country safe. National security is the foundation that everything else rests on. But it is not just about equipment or strategy – it’s about people. The men and women who serve and those who continue to live with the physical and emotional toll long after they take off the uniform.
“This year I got up close and personal with the inner workings of the military and my commitment to our Armed Forces, our veterans and to remembrance is stronger than ever. ”
That is why Labour has once again stepped up to support our veterans. We are putting the Armed Forces Covenant – a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces and their families are treated fairly – fully into law so fairness is not optional.
We are delivering a Forces First approach to new housing on unused Ministry of Defence land so forces families and veterans are prioritised for stable, decent homes. We are launching VALOUR – a new programme giving veterans across the UK easier access to the essential care and support – backed by £50 million and with new centres across the UK.
We are recognising historic wrongs experienced by LGBT veterans, backed by £75 million of financial redress. We have made sure the Veterans’ Card is now accepted as voter ID. And we have committed new funding to tackle veteran homelessness, providing specialist support for employment and independent living.
These are practical steps that show our respect in action.
I have supported the Royal British Legion all my life. I attend parades and services every year. I ran the London Marathon to raise funds for them because I know how much their work matters to veterans. This year I got up close and personal with the inner workings of the military and my commitment to our Armed Forces, our veterans and to remembrance is stronger than ever.
The stories of those who served should never fade. We remember them. We honour them. And in the work we do now to support those who served, we prove that remembrance is far more than a moment of silence once a year.
