Honouring our Armed Forces

5.29.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 27th Jun 2009

On Armed Forces Day, Chelmsford Lib Dem campaigner Stephen Robinson has paid tribute to our armed personnel but said they need action not just warm words. He said, "Our Army, RAF and Naval personnel deserve our respect but they also deserve the best possible support, service conditions and equipment. This applies in service and after they leave. [more...]

"Warm words from Labour and Conservative politicians are not enough; they need to act. The Liberal Democrats are committed to improve the conditions under which our armed personnel serve and are pledged to honour the military covenant. Our forces need better equipment, better housing and better healthcare."

See today's statement from Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg MP: http://is.gd/1gjVl

The Lib Dems covered this in greater detail at last September's conference. The party committed itself to a range of improvements in service conditions (pay, retention, housing, health care) in the paper 'Our Nation's Duty - Proposals for Armed Forces Welfare'.

The key proposals in the paper include:

• Renewing the political and military covenant

• A New Strategic Defence Review

• A written covenant for all three services

• Greater scrutiny of forces' welfare spending

• Set up a Military Covenant Committee

• Review Armed Forces' health

• Military-only wards

• Sustained mental health support

• Greater availability of information on medical and mental health care

• Ring-fenced housing budget

• Faster upgrade of service accommodation

The policy paper:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/ld-migrated-assets/assets/0000/8842/Our_Nation_s_Duty.pdf

Related Links:

Armed Forces Day website.

Lib Dem MP Roger Williams secures debate on suport for veterans.

Help for Heroes.

Lib Dem news on Defence issues.

Stephen Robinson in 2007 'Honour the Covenant' call.

Essex Lib Dem MP Bob Russell supports military veterans.

Security and Liberty in a globalised world - Lib Dem policy on security issues.

Profile of Nick Harvey MP, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Defence.