Motion 12 – Veteran Group calls to reaffirm our campaigning goals

Proposer: Mick Stott

That this Workers Party of Britain Congress notes that whilst there is a strong network of support available to British veterans, its effectiveness is often inconsistent, with gaps in coverage, waiting times, regional disparities, and a need for better coordination.

Many veterans benefit from the services that are currently provided, but those veterans with more complex issues may find themselves falling through the cracks, highlighting the ongoing need for improvement in support structures. Efforts to address these issues are ongoing, but significant work remains to ensure all veterans receive the comprehensive care and support they deserve.

Therefore this congress resolves to reaffirm its commitment to the policy as outlined in the GE2024 campaign manifesto and on taking government resolves to: –

1. Carry out a top-down review of our armed forces to ensure they are lean and efficient. Savings will go to front-line personnel.
2. Review our membership of NATO and endeavour to seek new collective security arrangements centred on the protection of peoples and not of states or industries.
3. Lead the call for multilateral disarmament and for the eradication of nuclear weapons.
4. Improve the rights of serving personnel.
5. Set up a veterans administration that ensure that serving personnel and veteranshave: –
6. Lifelong, free, priority access to healthcare
7. Priority access to work opportunities with incentives to businesses
8. Disability compensation for serving personnel
9. Vocational rehabilitation including free access to education
10. Cheap home loans or priority access to social housing
11. Life insurance for serving personnel
12. Burial and memorial benefits
13. Discounted travel arrangements
14. Countrywide retail discount scheme
15. Additional support if they are found in prison
16. Free social care provision

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Amendment

Dear general secretary,

I would like to propose an amendment to motion 12 point 2:

replacing the sentence “Review our membership of NATO and endeavour to seek new collective security arrangements centred on the protection of peoples and not of states or industries.” with “Terminate our membership of NATO. It’s a war alliance that puts our service men and women in harm’s way upon Washington’s prerogative. NATO has no progressive role to play in the twenty-first century.”

Mover: Jesse Williams