To mark Armed Forces Day on Saturday 25 June, Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, has praised the contributions of UK Armed Forces in defending communities at home and abroad.
From deployments abroad in response to the invasion of Ukraine to deployments at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, our Armed Forces are essential to our national defence, our national resilience and our national NATO obligations.
The Tory Government has left our Armed Forces with weakened foundations, having cut the Army to its smallest size in 300 years. In the past 12 months, the Labour Party has called on Ministers to halt army cuts, campaigned for Commonwealth veterans who have served at least four years and their families to have visa fees scrapped, and promoted a new duty of care to allow personnel to receive better legal and welfare support.
Armed Forces Day is held each year on the last Saturday of June to celebrate the service and sacrifice of our UK Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, said:
“This Armed Forces Day I want to thank our Armed Forces personnel for their leading role in helping local communities in Bristol South through the Covid-19 pandemic. 34,000 Forces personnel were involved in efforts to tackle the pandemic in the UK, with Armed Forces personnel deployed to hospitals, driving ambulances, and delivering Covid-19 vaccines across the country.
“I am also deeply proud of our servicemen and women’s continued crucial role in defending the UK and our NATO allies from Russian aggression. Our Armed Forces are essential to our national defence and resilience, but also those of our allies.
“A Labour Government would halt the cuts the current Tory Government are making to our Armed Forces and strengthen support for our veterans, including boosting veterans’ mental health support by £35m.”