We celebrate your service: PM calls veterans a national asset ahead of Armistice Day
Veterans are a "national asset" whose stories must be passed on, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said as he addressed a reception at Downing Street ahead of Armistice Day next week.
The event brought together veterans, serving members of the Armed Forces and cadets, who were welcomed into Number 10 to honour their service and sacrifice.
Sir Keir, whose grandfather served in the Second World War and whose uncle served in the Falklands, said the annual observance on 11 November was "about giving profound thanks to all who have served, and continue to serve".
Honouring veterans and their stories
Sir Keir said he felt humbled whenever he met veterans and described it as a privilege to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, or Victory over Japan Day, which commemorates Japan's surrender on 15 August 1945.
"I'm glad that both were remembered this year, because sometimes VJ doesn't sometimes get all of the attention," he said, referring to VE Day.
He also reflected on his recent meeting with president Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking of the bravery of the Ukrainian people as the full-scale war approaches its fourth year.
"He is defending the very values that we have defended so many times over," said Sir Keir.
"I'm always struck by the courage of the Ukrainian people in that fight, in their struggle for peace – that determination. Those who are serving, the families of those who were serving, and all the civilians who say it is an absolute duty to do whatever they can for their country.
"You know what that is to serve your country in every conceivable way. And those values are being fought for again across Europe."
'We celebrate your service'
The Prime Minister continued by emphasising that veterans are a national asset - and stressed the importance of young people understanding "the values that you carry with you and have always carried with you".
"For young people, every time they do that, they are inspired and changed by those conversations and it instils in them a sense of pride in their country that can only come through you," he said.
"We celebrate your service, but also the role you have in building the future of this country."
He added that the Government had put forward a raft of measures as part of the Forces First approach, which offers priority access to homes built for service personnel and veterans on regenerated defence land.
"I think that putting Forces First tells you how important that is to us," he pointed out.
This week, he said the Government would launch a veterans strategy, following the release of the new digital veteran ID card.
The PM said the strategy would ensure veterans can access the support and services they are entitled to more quickly and easily, while also acknowledging the challenges faced by those running hubs and other organisations in providing that support.
Sir Keir finished by saying: "On behalf of those millions of people alongside myself – thank you.
"For what you will instil as we go forward as a country, reminding us of what public service is, what it means to be patriotic and drive your country forward – and we owe you hugely."
In attendance at the reception was Mary Ann Clarke, a Chelsea Pensioner and veteran of the Women's Royal Army Corps, who received a General Service Medal for her service in Northern Ireland.
Speaking to BFBS Forces News, she emphasised the importance of remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice in every conflict.
She said Sir Keir's remarks that veterans are a national asset made her feel "very proud, but very humble at the same time," because as Chelsea Pensioners "we don't just represent ourselves in the hospital, we represent all veterans".
Earlier the Prime Minister acknowledged the "appalling" mass stabbing attack on board a train travelling to London on Saturday, in which 11 people were hospitalised, including one railway worker who is in a critical but stable condition.
Officials have said the casualties would have been far worse if not for the actions of the driver, Andrew Johnson – a veteran who served in the Royal Navy for 17 years and was deployed to Iraq – who arranged for the train to be diverted to a nearby station.
"Those that responded are heroes," said Sir Keir. "Thanks to their bravery and quick thinking, people are alive today who might not otherwise have been alive."
A 32-year-old man has been remanded in custody following the attack, charged with 10 counts of attempted murder.
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