Anger as record number of maimed troops are denied disability benefit

A record number of wounded war veterans have been denied disability benefits in the past year after undergoing tests carried out by the Government’s controversial assessment company.

Hundreds of injured ex-soldiers are being declared fit for work by Atos Healthcare in spite of physical and mental injuries they suffered in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Last night, the Royal British Legion (RBL) announced a 72 per cent annual rise in former soldiers having their applications to receive Employment Support Allowance (ESA) turned down. Several hundred wounded personnel were denied the benefit on the basis of physical examinations conducted by Atos, according to the RBL Read More      Here    

(RG) When a nation does not look after its servicemen & men and woman then that nation is morally bankrupt.

  

Mr Cameron MUST stop these vile witch-hunts against our brave troops

Over the past few years, I have been watching the disturbing growth of an insidious enemy, an enemy that represents a very real danger to the fighting capability and morale of our Armed Forces.
This is an enemy that seems to have almost magical powers. Not only can it slow down an infantryman in the thick of a firefight, but it could also cause a Typhoon pilot not to drop his bombs or the captain of a destroyer not to engage with a threatening vessel.
Furthermore, it is an enemy feared by every serviceman and servicewoman in this country. Worse still, it is an enemy many will continue to fear even after they have hung up their berets.
The enemy to which I am referring is not ISIS or, indeed, any form of terrorist or conventional combatant.No, for this is an enemy that carries neither bombs nor bullets — but bundles.
These bundles consist of legal documents and supposed evidence gathered by an army of ambulance-chasing lawyers, and which are then thrown like grenades at soldiers who are supposed to have committed the most heinous war crimes and vile abuses while they were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Though there can be no doubt that every soldier should, of course, obey the Laws of War and Rules of Engagement, it is to my genuine dismay as a former Army officer and Armed Forces minister that our troops should be subjected to lengthy, spurious and stressful legal probes that have little to do with military reality and justice and everything to do with enriching grandstanding lawyers.

Absurd
Just yesterday, we learned of a new and particularly fatuous example of this vile and unpatriotic witch-hunt.Read More HERE  


(RG) Here is a poem I wrote about the latest persecution of our Armed Forces 

BETRAYED


As a young boy I always wanted to be a soldier
Counted the seconds as I got older
Then came the day and I joined the ranks
Not for me working in shops or banks
Then they sent us of to War
My Mother cried as I closed the front door
I shot a Taliban who killed a soldier
Now I rot in prison accused of murder.

© Tony McNally

HL1489 – Falkland Islands: Armed Forces (Answered)

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated annual cost to the public purse of maintaining the United Kingdom’s military presence in the Falkland Islands.

Earl Howe. The total annual running cost of the garrison in the Falkland Islands (including infrastructure costs) is around £85 million. In addition, as part of the Falkland Islands Defence Review, £180 million will be invested in improvements to the infrastructure over the next ten years.Read more HERE 


(RG) Worth every penny

BRITISH ARMED FORCES

RED FRIDAY

RED FRIDAY

THE DEVIL CANNOT DEFEAT ME

SUPPORT OUR ARMED FORCES

RESPECT OUR ARMED FORCES

UK Armed Forces Quarterly Personnel Report

This is a quarterly publication containing requirements, strengths, intake and outflow from the UK Armed Forces. This data is broken down by Service, Officer/Rank, Training Indicator, gender and ethnicity. Outflow information by Service, officer/rank and exit reason, including Voluntary Outflow, is also shown. Read more HERE

If this was a school report it would read "Can do better, see me! "

The Soldiers sing 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother'

SUPPORT THE ARMED FORCES

'Control freak' ministers ban MPs from military bases

Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, has been accused of “control freakery” by trying to ban MPs from military bases and meetings with the Armed Forces.Members of the House of Commons Defence Committee say they have been prevented from visiting defence facilities and denied information about the Forces under a “clampdown” ordered by ministers.Read more

 HERE


Who can you trust these days?

THE GURKHAS

A politician breaking a promise, whatever next?

Royal British Legion has accused David Cameron of failing to keep a promise to strengthen the Military Covenant.

SUPPORTING OUR ARMED FORCES

HT/ and more fabulous art work here at Spud Jock Milne

The Royal British Legion Schools Postcards to the Armed Forces

It brings a tear to your eye