MP Rayner calls for increased support for veterans

New Government figures have revealed that up to 70,000 UK veterans could now be forced to rely on Universal Credit during the cost of living crisis.

There are 98,031 working age veterans living in the North West, including 2,656 in Oldham and 3,151 in Tameside.

Last month, Ministers admitted that 33,800 veterans are currently receiving Universal Credit after serving their country following parliamentary questions from Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey MP, but these figures are drawn from an assessment of just 45% of claimants, meaning the actual figure could be more than double that.

Labour MP for Ashton and Failsworth Angela Rayner also inists that the Conservatives broke their own promise on employment support for veterans.

In 2019, the Government announced up to £6 million to fund more than 100 Armed Forces Champions in jobcentres, but the Veterans Strategy Action Plan confirmed that Ministers were pushing ahead with plans for just half the amount initially promised.

A report by the Royal British Legion last year found that former personnel are less likely to be in full time or part-time work than the general population, and nearly twice as likely to be unemployed.

Ms Rayner said: “Ministers are forcing veterans to rely on Universal Credit during the cost of living crisis.

“As veterans struggle with rising bills and inflation, the Government has still not revealed how many veterans in total are relying on universal credit as well as explaining why they have picked this moment to cut employment support to former personnel in half.

“We have a moral duty to our troops as they transition from military to civilian life and must ensure veterans are receiving the right welfare and employment support to get through the tough months ahead.”

New research has also revealed that the number of new recruits signing up to the British Army has plummeted as the Conservatives push ahead with further cuts of 10,000 troops.

Only 800 were recruited into the British Army from the North West in the last year, a drop from 1,060 in 2015.

Full time trained Army strength has fallen from over 100,000 in 2010 to 77,190 in 2022, and Ministers are set to axe one in five soldiers from the British Infantry by the time of the next election.

Ms Rayner said: “The Conservatives have weakened the foundations of our Armed Forces.

“Conservative ministers have cut the British army to its smallest size in 300 years, with frontline troops bearing the brunt of these cuts.

“Our Armed Forces are essential to our national security and resilience.

"With growing Russian aggression, the Government is pushing ahead with further cuts to the Army by 10,000 troops over the next three years.

"Ministers must halt these cuts now.”

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