Equality for service veterans - Popham (Bristol East Liberal Democrats)

Bristol East Liberal Democrats <info@bristoleastlibdems.org.uk>

Equality for service veterans - Popham

April 24, 2010 4:30 PM

Equality for service veterans For a number of years the AFPG campaign has pursued equality in pensions for regular service veterans who left before April 1975 with less than 22 years for Other Ranks or 16 years for commissioned Officers. Those leaving from April 1975 onwards receive pro-rata pensions whereas those who left earlier received nothing. Following a recent re-structuring the campaign has now been incorporated as an activity stream within the newly formed Equality for Veterans Association (EVA).

There are many matters which concern affected Veterans including:

It has always been maintained that the Armed Forces Pay Review Body took future pension payments into consideration when making pay awards. This abatement was challenged in the High Court in 2003 however the case was dismissed on a legal technicality. The Judge, Mr Justice Stanley Burnton, did record that the case for abatement was not proven by either side therefore leaving the door open for future legal challenge;
The legislation was passed in 1972 but servicemen and women including many who were made redundant prior to April 1975 were not made aware of the future change or given the option to stay on in order to qualify;
Government maintains that retrospective changes cannot be allowed. A precedent does however exist in that MPs themselves were 10 years earlier granted pro-rata pensions with 10 years+ retrospection to 1954.

The attitude of Government has been disingenuous to say the least towards its Veterans regarding the equal pension rights campaign. The Prime Minister has repeatedly said he would ensure that those currently serving, veterans and their families would not be subject to any disadvantage.

MIke Popham, prospective MP for Bristol East and Royal Air Force squadron leader (ret'd) said "In my opinion this can be likened to recent statements made to the Chilcot Inquiry that Defence Budgets have consistently been increased in real terms year on year, only to learn one week later that there had been a 'misunderstanding' of the facts as between the former Chancellor and the current Prime Minister!"