We live in a rapidly changing and sometimes dangerous world.  Armed Forces Day on Saturday 24 June is a public celebration of the service and commitment of our Forces, their families and veterans.  It’s the opportunity for us all to say ‘thank you’ for the vital role they play in keeping us all safe.

Once again, Crawley Borough Council will be supporting a big event in conjunction with our local armed forces and veterans, being held in the Memorial Gardens.

Labour stands up for our Armed Forces. We are deeply proud of our Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and their families for the contribution they make to our country.

On Armed Forces Day, Labour thanks our Armed Forces for all they do to keep Britain safe. Theirs is the ultimate public service.

From deployments abroad in response to the invasion of Ukraine to deployments at home during the COVID 19 pandemic, our Armed Forces are essential to our national defence, national resilience and our national NATO obligations.

By their own admission, the Conservatives have ‘hollowed out and underfunded’ our Armed Forces over the last 13 years. Ministers must reboot defence plans by halting further cuts to army numbers, ensuring our NATO obligations are fulfilled and renewing Britain’s contract with our Forces.

Despite increasing threats and growing Russian aggression, the Defence Secretary is pushing ahead with further cuts to full-time Army soldiers, reducing it to the smallest size since Napoleon. Ministers need to halt these cuts now.

The last 13 Conservative years have corroded the nation’s moral contract with those who serve in our Armed Forces, with terrible reports of personnel living in damp and mouldy housing, satisfaction with service life falling well below 50 per cent, and retention rates dropping.

The next Labour Government will stand by our troops, veterans and their families. We will boost mental health support, ensure our heroes have good homes to live in and fully incorporate the Armed Forces Covenant into law.  We will also introduce a new Armed Forces Commissioner to help enforce standards and to improve service life for our Forces and their families.

Cllr Michael Jones,

Leader, Crawley Borough Council