Either we value our Armed
Forces, or we don't. I do. There is no greater service to the country than those
who put their lives on the line, risking everything to protect the freedoms that
we hold dear. We need Armed Forces that are properly funded so they can be fit
for purpose. It costs money, and under my leadership it'll still be UKIP policy
for that money to be provided.
I don't want us
fighting in unnecessary foreign wars though: we need the capability to defend ourselves, but also the
common sense to recognise that interfering in other countries' affairs often
makes things worse rather than better. To send our brave men and women into
action, risking life and limb, there needs to be an incredibly good reason. That
hasn't always been the case recently.
Almost as big a scandal is
how we treat veterans. Those who are injured in the line of duty have the right
to the very best in medical treatment. They don't always get it. Those who
develop mental health issues, on active service or when re-adapting to civilian
life, have the right to the very best in psychiatric support. They don't always
get it.
When veterans are homeless, it's
a national disgrace. Frankly it's a national disgrace that anyone is homeless in
21st century Britain, but that's another matter.
We need to make sure that the
necessary support is provided to our veterans. The horrors of war shouldn't be
underestimated. No wonder those who have experienced it often suffer for the
rest of their lives. My lgreat grandfather fought in World War 1 and my late grandfather in World War Two. They never shirked
the task, and indeed, the former was mentioned in despatches for his bravery. The latter suffered in silence for the rest of his life from the psychological trauma that
it inflicted.
Those who put their country
above their own life and ambitions deserve us to put them first too. That's not
happening at the moment. It's a disgrace.
