Reaffirming our support for forces veterans

Foreign Secretary David Lammy is attending a summit with EU foreign ministers this week (Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Today to mark the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, I will be attending VE Day commemorations in Edinburgh and meeting with veterans from across Scotland who have served to defend our country. We can never fully repay the debt of gratitude owed to the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces, but we must do all we can to help them to lead successful lives after their service.

A government and a society can be judged, I believe, by how it treats its veterans. That’s why the Labour Government has announced a new UK-wide veteran support system, Valour, to ensure veterans have easier access to care and support. The plan, which has been welcomed by the Royal British Legion, was announced by Veterans Minister Al Carns, himself a veteran who served in the Royal Marines for 25 years. Backed by £50 million of funding, Valour will bring services together to deliver easier access to care and support with regional networks coordinating housing, employment and health services for veterans across the whole country. It builds on the work the government has already done to support veterans, including delivering an additional £3.5m of funding for homelessness services for veterans.

But 80 years on from VE Day, it’s impossible to ignore that the international situation has become much more precarious than it has been for many years. These are uncertain times for the world. As I’ve written previously, the post-Cold War peace dividend is over. It’s for this reason that the Labour Government has taken decisive action to step up our commitment to defence and security. Earlier this year, the Prime Minister announced the ambition to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027, and in the spring statement, the chancellor frontloaded a £2.2 billion increase in the defence budget, which took effect from last month. The money is being used to ensure that the capabilities of the Armed Forces keep up with the pace of technological change, and to improve conditions for those currently serving in the military, with 36,000 military homes set to be improved and refurbished.

The international picture means it is also vital that we strengthen our alliances and deepen our relationships with other countries. This week the government signed a hugely ambitious trade deal with India, the fastest-growing economy in the G20, which will halve tariffs on Scottish whisky and gin and increase whisky exports by £1bn over the next five years. A tremendous boost to Scottish industry and jobs. Moreover, this week the Foreign Secretary is attending a summit with EU foreign ministers to push for a new, ambitious security relationship between the UK and Europe. This is part of our wider relationship reset with the EU to deliver a much closer trading and partnership agreement. In a changing world, it’s vital that we strengthen our international relationships and boost our commitment to national security.

Ian Murray is Labour MP for Edinburgh South and Secretary of State for Scotland