Jonathan Buckley said:
“Northern Ireland has a proud record of men and women from this part of the UK contributing to the Armed Forces. We owe a great debt of gratitude for the selfless service of so many people who currently serve, or who have served.
That is why the DUP is committed to ensuring Government steps up to provide the support our Armed Forces personnel deserve. They and their families deserve to be treated equitably in the provision of key services.
In the last term, DUP MPs supported the Armed Forces Act 2021, delivering on our pledge to ensure the Armed Forces Covenant was legally protected in Northern Ireland as in other parts of the United Kingdom. We also insisted on the appointment of a Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner. The contribution that office has made to the welfare and wellbeing of veterans has been significant, not least because of the network of Armed Forces Champions now in place across many local Councils.
In the new term, our commitment to further advance these issues is clear. We will explore the potential expansion of the Armed Forces Covenant Duty to include employment, pensions, social care and criminal justice. Furthermore, we will promote a UK-wide memorandum of understanding on access to public services, and bespoke support for service children with special educational needs. We will also urge Government to disregard War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme as income from benefits and pensions.
Only DUP MPs will champion this positive plan for our Armed Forces personnel and their families. On 4th July, vote DUP to allow us to continue to be that strong voice for our Armed Forces community in the next Parliament.”