Former British Army chief ‘does his bit’
07 October 2009
Former Chief of the General Staff General Sir Mike Jackson, chief of the British Army between 2003 and 2006, gave his backing today to The Royal British Legion's general election manifesto calling for better treatment of Service personnel and their families, as well as Armed Forces wounded, bereaved, and veterans.
"Much blood has been spilled in Afghanistan – we must be prepared for more," Jackson says, in a full-page advertisement taken out by the Legion in Wednesday's copy of The Sun newspaper.
"Our professional soldiers accept this risk. They serve their country with honour and with pride. In return, we must treat them and their families with fairness.
"This is the pact of 'blood for treasure' that our fighting personnel have accepted for centuries," he adds.
"They have not spared their blood – we must not spare our treasure."
The Legion's manifesto calls for changes to benefit Service personnel and their families, including improvements and an ongoing review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, and the need to abide by harmony guidelines on deployment rates to reduce family separation and breakdown. It calls for independent legal advice to be provided to bereaved families during inquest and the introduction of an independent advisory committee to assist bereaved family members.
The manifesto also says it's past time for Government to deliver on its promises of priority NHS treatment for veterans with conditions caused by service in the Armed Forces, and that Government must commit itself to tackling poverty among older veterans and widows.
The manifesto was put to all Members of Parliament and prospective parliamentary candidates in the recent round of party conferences. During the recent Labour party conference, the Legion's Director General, Chris Simpkins, took part in a top table forum hosted by The Sun which included the Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth.
Mr Simpkins used the platform to urge politicians of all stripes to 'do their bit' and support the manifesto by signing up at www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk.
