With a general election only months away, the Legion is
determined to put issues affecting the whole armed forces family at the centre
of political debate, reports Kevin Shinkwin, Head of Public Affairs
The electoral clock is ticking. The political pendulum is
swinging, and the profile of our armed forces has never been higher.
Unprecedented media attention has brought their heroic sacrifice into our
living rooms as never before.
The Legion is determined to capitalise on this for the sake
of the whole armed forces family. That is why the National Chairman, Peter
Cleminson, has written a letter to every candidate standing in the general
election. His message to them is simple: “It’s time to do your bit”.
The letter, which forms part of the Legion’s General
Election Manifesto, also contains a crucial reminder to candidates, which sadly
does need
to be spelled out: “Ultimately, it is politicians who are in the unique
position of sending our forces into war. You therefore have a moral lifelong
duty of care to protect and support them and their families.”
Of course, this is not the first time that the Legion has
put its head above the parapet in the run-up to an election. In 1922 – back in
the charity’s very early days – the Legion asked all candidates what, if they
were elected, they would do to help ex-service men. Now, the roles have been
reversed and the Legion is telling them exactly what it wants them to do for
the whole armed forces family.
The manifesto is split into three sections. Service
personnel and their families includes calls on the Armed Forces Compensation
Scheme and accommodation.
The section on Bereaved armed forces families calls for more
support for families through the inquest process, training for coroners and the
provision of specialist bereavement counselling services for armed forces
families. And the final section on Veterans and their families includes calls
on the NHS priority treatment system, tackling poverty among veterans and their
families, Disabled Facilities Grants and mental health.
All of these areas – and others highlighted in the manifesto
– are vital to those affected by them and, therefore, to the Legion itself. The
challenge has been to communicate the message in a way that can be understood,
embraced and acted upon by candidates.
“Ultimately, that is what this is all about”, says Legion
Director General, Chris Simpkins. “We have to make sure that this manifesto is
not only something that candidates are aware of, but that it’s something they
actually use. We want our manifesto calls to become their parties’ manifesto
pledges. And to
do that, we need everyone – not just the politicians – to do their bit.”
Obviously, every candidate standing for election represents
the primary audience, whether a party leader or a humble first-timer. As the
National Chairman’s letter makes clear, politicians send our forces into war.
The Legion is therefore contacting all candidates in every
constituency (as well as those MPs who are not standing again) to ask them to
urge their own party leader to adopt our manifesto calls.
The Legion hopes its members and supporters and even those
who perhaps have never thought of getting involved in a Legion campaign before,
will see the message: ‘It’s time to do your bit’, as applying to them as well.
“This is a chance for members and anyone else who supports
the wider armed forces family to really make their voice heard”, insists Peter
Cleminson. “The Legion can write letters and do its best to get its points
across in the media, but if it can do that together with effective grassroots
campaigning by our members and supporters, then so much the better.
“Indeed, it’s in making our voice heard locally, as well as
nationally, where I think the Legion, as one of the UK’s largest membership
organisations, really comes into its own.”
Peter concludes: “There’s no doubt that our armed forces and
those who have served need our support as never before. Our manifesto provides
a practical tool that everyone can use to make our collective voice heard.
Let’s all do our bit to ensure the politicians do their bit too.”
There are several ways you can do your bit. You can write to
your MP (at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA) and ask them to urge their
party leader to adopt the Legion’s manifesto calls.
A campaign pack with some suggested text and other resources
can be ordered on 01304 205 900 or by emailing info@buckland.co.uk. If you have
access to the internet, you can go to www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk, add your
signature to the online petition, encourage your family and friends to do the
same, and send a pre-prepared email to your local candidates (which can be
personalised).
Please send copies of any replies from your MP, or
candidates, to the Parliamentary Campaigns Team at Haig House, 199 Borough High
Street, London SE1 1AA. Thank you for doing your bit.
