Parliamentary candidates: will you support the Veterans Pledge?

This election, we’re asking party leaders and parliamentary candidates across the country to commit to supporting veterans.

Please will you publicly show your support for the Help for Heroes Veterans Pledge, and ask your party leader to sign the pledge on behalf of your party? We’ve made it easy to share and show your support online.

Please get in touch if there is any other way we can help. You can email our policy team at george.lankester@helpforheroes.org.uk.

These three pledges would lead to life changing improvements for veterans, if the next government commits to them.

23,000 people have already added their name to the call for party leaders to sign the Veterans Pledge, and the number is growing every day.

You are welcome to add your name to this call too, but as a local candidate, the most helpful thing you can do is publicly talk about your support for the Veterans Pledge and encourage your party leader to sign.

• Why these three things? Find out more.

  A well funded Office for Veterans’ Affairs

  In 2019, along with other veterans’ charities and The Sun newspaper, we were successful in calling for the creation of an Office for Veterans’ Affairs, separate to the Ministry of Defence. We were clear that this needed to be headed by a minister who attends cabinet and whose sole responsibility is the welfare of veterans, giving veterans a voice at the heart of government.

  Since being created, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs has been the driving force behind life-changing improvements for veterans. It’s crucial that the next Government commits to keeping this department and providing the funding necessary.

  An independent review of the medical discharge process

  We continuously hear from veterans who have been let down by the current medical discharge process. There are many gaps and inconsistencies when people leave the military due to illness or injury, and too many veterans aren’t getting the support they should be receiving to live well and thrive after service. In particular, mental health issues are often missed.

  An independent review would be the first step towards the reform that is urgently needed.

  Removing barriers to benefits and compensation

  Too many veterans are having to fight the system to get the compensation and financial support they deserve – often while battling physical or mental illness and injuries from service.

  From amputees forced to endure multiple reassessments to qualify for benefits, to veterans with chronic pain not getting compensation which accounts for the long term, debilitating impact on their lives. These unfair barriers to financial support and compensation need to be removed.

  For more detailed information about any of these demands see our 2024 Manifesto.