John Baron MP urges Government to recognise debt of gratitude to nuclear test veterans

MP: Parliamentary Debate today marks second and final phase of campaign

John Baron MP, Patron of the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association, will be speaking in a debate he has secured today urging the Government to finally recognise the debt of gratitude we owe our nuclear test veterans. Britain compares poorly to other countries as to how it treats its nuclear test veterans.

John will say,

“It is only right that we recognise the crucial role played by the Royal Navy and our Vanguard-class submarines in safeguarding our country, but there is a legacy from the dawn of our deterrent that we have still not yet fully recognised. There is another group of people who also deserve our recognition and thanks – without whom Britain would never have joined the top tier of nuclear powers. These are our nuclear test veterans.”

“Britain is near the bottom of the international table of decency when it comes to the treatment of its elderly veterans. This must change. Making them endure an arduous War Pensions process whereby the burden of proof is on the claimant compares very poorly with many other countries where automatic recognition is the norm.”

“The Government has a good record of recognising good causes and righting past wrongs – mesothelioma and thalidomide are two examples. The nuclear test veterans fit into both categories. If the Government doesn’t, it fails our test veterans, fails their descendents, and it fails to lift the veil of shame which now uniquely hangs over this country.”