I know that many people who have been following the news recently will have heard about the resignation of the Defence Secretary and Veterans Minister. We live in uncertain times; there is ongoing war in Europe, several other countries are in conflict with one another, and – as I write this – we’re hearing of Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tankers being seized in the English Channel.
So, it’s fair to wonder why two senior people in the Government, with such consequential roles, felt they needed to step down. The best person to explain this is, of course, John Healey MP, the outgoing Secretary of State for Defence.
In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Healey said “Since [January], you have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.
“However, your Defence Investment Plan [DIP] financial settlement… falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time.”
I, and many others, have been asking for updates on the Defence Investment Plan since last year. It was promised last Autumn, but there have been months of delays. It was plain to see that the DIP has been ‘stuck’ and in March I asked where. This letter makes it clear: with Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves’s Treasury.
A Government’s first priority is the safety and security of its citizens. This Government must make sure it comes to Parliament with a Defence Investment Plan that puts right the issues identified by the outgoing Defence Secretary.
In an uncertain world, there is one thing we can be sure of and thankful for: our armed forces. The work of our service men and women never stops. I thank them for their bravery, sacrifice, and all that they do, whether at home or abroad, to keep us safe.
This is particularly fitting, as I’m writing this a week before Armed Forces Day, and by the time you are reading this, we will have already celebrated. I do not doubt that our veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces will have put on another tremendous show. They are a credit to our area and never fail to make us proud.
Last year I led the first debate in Parliament on the role of the Royal British Legion since 2013. In my speech, I quoted Thornton Wilder, who said: “The greatest tribute to the dead is not grief, but gratitude”.
Which brings me to the recent unveiling of a new World War 2 memorial in our area. The memorial was installed in memory of the 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, the American unit that called Hinckley and Leicestershire their home from April to September 1944.
I'd like to take this opportunity to pay thanks to everyone involved, including Adam and Darren, who co-founded Mission82 and have been raising funds to honour servicemen from the Division with memorials across the country.
As President of the Hinckley Branch of the Royal British Legion, I would also like to thank members of the Branch who attended the unveiling with Branch Standards and conducted the service.
I closed my RBL speech in Parliament by saying: “Let us reflect on the quiet, steadfast work of the Royal British Legion. It is a pillar of remembrance, a shield for those who served, and a voice for those who can no longer speak. In paying tribute to that, we affirm our collective duty to support it, just as it has supported so many.”
I feel these words could aptly apply to our Armed Forces too, and will continue to make that case on the national stage.
