Armed Forces accommodation a priority say voters
14 April 2010
A poll, commissioned by The Royal British Legion and released today, shows that 84% of people believe that the next Government should make bringing Armed Forces accommodation up to the highest standard a priority.
The ComRes poll echoes the Legion's manifesto call for the next Government "to bring all single and family accommodation up to the highest standard within the lifetime of the next parliament".
The poll finding comes in the wake of a recent nfpSynergy poll that saw the Legion rated as the most effective campaigning charity by MPs, which the charity attributes largely to its 'Time to do your bit' campaign.
With a general election manifesto at its heart, the 'Time to do your bit' campaign has secured the pledges of more than 1000 candidates, including more than half of all MPs, among them Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. The Legion has made clear to candidates that how they choose to do their bit is up to them.
The Legion expects Armed Forces accommodation to be an important part of any incoming Government's Armed Forces welfare programme. It is also hoping the three main party leaders will take note both of the extent of support among politicians for its campaign and, in particular, of the strength of public feeling on the issue of Armed Forces accommodation.
In this month's Legion Magazine, due out on 15 April, the three leaders write exclusively on why and how they are pledging to 'do their bit' for the Armed Forces family.
Chris Simpkins, Director General of The Royal British Legion, said, "This poll shows the public want the next Government to prioritise bringing Armed Forces accommodation up to the highest standard. For the three main party leaders to make that commitment now would be an excellent start."
Notes to Editors:
The three leaders' articles can be read in full in this month's edition of Legion Magazine, due out 15 April. Please see www.legion-magazine.co.uk.
For general media enquiries contact:
The Royal British Legion - Liam Maguire, Press Officer
T: 0203 207 2242 M: 07769 968858 E: lmaguire@britishlegion.org.uk
ComRes interviewed 1001 GB adults by telephone between 1 and 3 April 2010. Data were weighted to be representative demographically of all GB adults. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council. Full data tables can be found at www.comres.co.uk
For further information on nfpSynergy, please contact Joe Saxton, Director of nfpSynergy, on 07976 329212 or at Joe.Saxton@nfpsynergy.net
