Help for Heroes disappointed as no dedicated Cabinet-level veterans' minister appointed

The Government will not be appointing a dedicated veterans' minister to the Cabinet, Downing Street has confirmed.

During Rishi Sunak's Conservative administration, then-minister for veterans' affairs Johnny Mercer attended Cabinet meetings to speak on behalf of former personnel.

Labour has decided that Defence Secretary John Healey will represent veterans at Cabinet rather than a dedicated minister, a decision which left Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes "disappointed".

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A Government spokesperson said: "Ministerial portfolios will be set out in due course – appointments are still ongoing.

"But first and foremost, the Defence Secretary will represent veterans at Cabinet.

"Our veterans are part of our military family and the Secretary of State will drive work with Cabinet colleagues to deliver for them.

"We are determined to change how we do government, stopping silos and working collaboratively across departments to serve the public and veterans."

'Disappointed'

Help for Heroes CEO James Needham said: "While we are disappointed there isn't a dedicated veterans' minister in Keir Starmer's cabinet, we hope John Healey and his team will continue to work with Help for Heroes and other charities to deliver the support our Armed Forces community deserves.

"We will continue to campaign for a review of the medical discharge process and end the barriers to fair compensation and benefits for veterans.

"We receive consistent testimony from those we support that these processes are not fair or working properly, and many would be shocked by the way in which our service people and their families are treated."

'RBL will seek reassurances'

Forces charity Royal British Legion (RBL) wished the new PM well as he entered office, while reiterating its commitment to working with the new Government to advocate for the Armed Forces community.

RBL has similar concerns to Help for Heroes, and wants to ensure that the Government operating without a veterans' minister would "not signal a reduction in support or priority".

Mark Atkinson, director general of RBL, told The Independent: "The new Government should show by its actions that it is effectively meeting the needs and improving the lives of the Armed Forces community: serving personnel, veterans, the bereaved and their families.

"We are pleased that the Government, in their manifesto, committed to applying the Armed Forces Covenant in law to every part of government, and we look forward to working with ministers across the range of departments that serve our community.

"RBL will seek reassurances that any changes do not signal a reduction in support or priority, but that they will result in improved co-ordination and delivery for the entire Armed Forces community."

It has been speculated that Downing Street could appoint a veterans' minister from outside the Cabinet, who will run the Office for Veterans' Affairs with oversight from Mr Healey.