Caroline challenges Labour on Veterans Minister role
By Linden Grigg
GOSPORT MP, Dame Caroline Dinenage, has challenged the new Labour Government as about why they have downgraded the Veterans Minister role in a question towards the Cabinet Secretary earlier this week; which marked one of her early contributions to the House of Commons as a Member of the Opposition.
The Minister for Veterans Affairs paid a huge role under the previous Conservative Government with Johnny Mercer attending weekly Cabinet meetings and further appearing for Oral Questions alongside colleagues in the Cabinet Office.
This meant that the voices of veterans were heard at the very centre of Government, who made a pledge to make Britain the best country in the world to be a veteran driven across Departments. It was a successful approach with a record level of veteran employment and no veteran homelessness due to a lack of provision over Christmas 2023.
However the Labour Party has downgraded the role of Veterans Minister since coming into power three weeks ago after the 2024 General Election; appointing new MP Alistair Carns as Minister for Veterans and People in the Ministry of Defence.
He will not attend Cabinet meetings under the new Government and this decision was called disappointing by Help for Heroes; a charity that provides support to veterans in the UK. Other groups have also stressed the need for hearing the voices of veterans when directing Government policy.
Ms Dinenage addressed the subject as she asked Cabinet Secretary Pat McFadden: “On behalf of the 12% of people in my constituency who have served in the armed forces, I ask the Cabinet Secretary to explain why he is not joined by a Veterans Minister on the Front Bench this morning.”
Cabinet Secretary Pat McFadden responded by saying “That is because responsibility for veterans is being transferred to the Ministry of Defence, which is a better home for it. Looking after our veterans will be a big priority in the Ministry of Defence.”
Speaking afterwards Caroline said: “I am deeply concerned about the downgrading of the Veterans Minister role. Veterans’ issues are not limited to the responsibilities of the Ministry of Defence, they concern everything from health and housing to employment and benefits. They need a cross-government approach to address them.”
More updates can be found on Caroline Dinenage’s official website or by visiting this Parliamentary link; which shows information on all questions addressed to MPs, debates and statements in the House of Commons.
PICTURED BY CAROLINE DINENAGE: Gosport MP speaks in the House of Commons on the subject of downgrading the Veterans Minister role.
