Not acceptable: MPs warn only 8.6% of LGBT+ veterans paid under compensation scheme

Almost 50 MPs and peers have written to Defence Secretary John Healey calling for faster action on compensation for LGBT veterans, after it emerged just 96 of the 1,119 people who applied for redress for the UK's historic military ban on homosexuality have received payments.

Until the year 2000, being gay was grounds for dismissal from the British military. Thousands of service personnel were forced out, criminalised, or denied medals and pensions because of their sexuality.

In the new letter, a cross-party group of MPs warn that the slow pace of the Government's scheme risks failing the very people it was created to support - with some veterans now elderly, in poor health, or dying before they receive any compensation.

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"This speed of settlement is simply not acceptable to our constituents," the letter states. 

'Recognition, dignity and justice'

Liberal Democrat MP Ben Maguire, who released the letter, said: "This Government rightly accepted the Etherton Review's recommendations in full, but they are now failing the very veterans they pledged to support. The slow pace of delivery is unacceptable and causing avoidable distress.

"Many of these LGBT veterans have already endured lifetimes of shame, stigma and rejection. 

"These veterans should not have to suffer all over again because of bureaucratic delays. 

"I'll continue to raise this issue until every veteran affected by this shameful chapter in our history receives the recognition, dignity and justice they deserve."

What is the Etherton Review?

The Financial Recognition Scheme was launched in December 2024 as one of 49 recommendations made in the independent review, led by Lord Etherton.

The review investigated the systemic harm caused by the ban on gay personnel serving in the military between 1967 and 2000. 

The Government accepted all of the recommendations in full. According to the Ministry of Defence, 47 have already been completed, with the final two due to be implemented by the Office for Veterans' Affairs by the end of the year.

The scheme offers two types of payment: a Discharge/Dismissal (DD) payment and an Impact Payment (IP), intended to acknowledge the damage caused by the policy. 

MOD insists it's prioritising the most vulnerable

"We deeply regret the treatment of LGBT serving personnel between 1967 and 2000 which was wholly unacceptable," a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said.

"We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups.

"While there are difficulties with record keeping from decades ago, we're working with organisations like Fighting With Pride to ensure that we reach as many LGBT veterans who may have been affected."