Westminster Life: We must do more for veterans

Remembrance Sunday demonstrates the very best of our community. Over the weekend, I had the privilege of attending the memorial services in Peterborough and in Ramsey, and visited Yaxley to join commemorations there too. Across our city, towns, and villages, people came together to honour the service of our Armed Forces, veterans, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our country. 

My generation has no lived experience of the World Wars. For many of us, the tragedy of the Somme, the horrors of the Blitz, and the bravery of D-Day are experienced through history books and the stories of our grandparents and great-grandparents. But despite this, we remember. It is our responsibility to remember the sacrifice and service of those who came before us and ensure that everything they gave up defending our freedom is not forgotten. I was really pleased to see local school children actively involved in several of this year’s remembrance services in our area, ensuring our collective memory only grows as we pass on our traditions.  

And Remembrance is not just about the distant past. It is deeply rooted in our present, in the service of British troops in more recent conflicts, and those who are deployed across the globe right now. Many of them will have served at or visited bases around Peterborough. RAF Wittering trains our pilots and provides logistical support. RAF Wyton provides intelligence support to our armed forces and was a vital bomber base during WWII. Service personnel continue to serve with bravery and dedication, protecting our freedoms and offering humanitarian support in an increasingly volatile world. 

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of attending the D-Day 82 Service of Remembrance in Normandy. Almost six months have passed since then, but I am still struck by the powerful commemoration I witnessed. We must continue to strive towards the values of resilience, courage, and extraordinary service in the face of danger because it is the right thing to do, both in our armed forces and in civilian life. Visiting the Falklands in August, I also saw firsthand how important our continued presence there is to preserving the freedom and right to self-determination of the islanders. I was proud to lay a wreath at the memorial for all who lost their lives in the Falklands conflict. 

But Remembrance is not enough. We must do more for our veterans. As the Prime Minister has said, “no one who has served our country should ever be left to sleep rough on our streets.” So, I am delighted that the Government has announced £8.7m extra funding for charities who support homeless veterans. I join the PM in urging any veterans who are sleeping rough, or those supporting them, to call a UK-wide helpline on 0800 9520774 to be connected directly to housing and other specialist support. 

We must bring the values and the spirit of Remembrance with us throughout the year, striving for courage and resilience, and doing more to support those who have sacrificed for us.