The Armed Forces Minister, Luke Pollard MP, was hosted by local MP Sam Rushworth for afternoon tea with representatives from armed forces, cadets and veteran’s groups at the Shildon Railway Institute on 18 August.
The event brought together members of the Bishop Auckland Branch of the Durham Light Infantry, the Shildon Branch of the Royal British Legion, leaders of Army Cadet Corps from Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle, a Veteran’s Breakfast Group, and Shildon Town Clerk, over tea, scones and sandwiches to talk with the minister about national security and issues affecting service personnel and veterans.
The minister shared how the government is aiming to improve life for service personnel, including the biggest ever pay increase and ensuring that nobody in uniform, no matter their age or rank, earns less than a proper living; and the government’s decision to renationalise 26,000 military homes where tax-payer’s money was being used to pay rents but private landlords were failing to properly maintain homes, to ensure those who serve live in homes fit for heroes.
He also talked government initiatives like Operation Valour, which is improving veterans’ access to healthcare, housing, and support services and how we ensure no one who has served is ever forgotten.
Finally, the minister explained the government’s plan to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP over the coming years, and the importance of ensuring this not only keeps the nation safe but spreads wealth and job creation in the areas that most need it.
Just prior to his visit to Shildon, he and Sam Rushworth had been at Cook Defence Systems in Stanhope, where a £125 million contact commitment to secure defence manufacturing jobs in Weardale was announced.
Following a short speech, the minister and MP went table to table, responding to questions and listening to attendees’ personal experiences and insights from their time in service and thoughts about how to address key issues affecting veterans today, including healthcare access, housing, mental health support, government initiatives and policies supporting veterans.
Sam Rushworth MP, said: “Our local armed forces community, never fail to deliver.
“Despite pulling the event together at fairly short notice, they came, many in respective uniforms and respectfully shared their views.
“I was really proud to introduce these good people to the Minister as representative of our area.
“They obviously made an impression as the minister stayed longer than scheduled.”
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
