Labour promises the bloody truth to nuke veterans

10 October 2023 , 15:29

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Angela Rayner has pledged to deliver a full public accountability to the military guinea pigs who are victims of the nuked blood scandal.

The deputy Labour leader promised a public inquiry, compensation and full access to their withheld medical records after veteran John Morris, 86, told how he had spent 60 years traumatised by questions over the death of his baby son Steven, while the Ministry of Defence refuses to provide the results of 1950s blood tests.

Tory ministers have refused to back the veterans’ demand for their records, and advised them to sue instead. Families have now launched a £100,000 crowdfunder to take the MoD to court.

John told a fringe event at the Labour conference in Liverpool: “After my son died, every morning after we had other children I had to get up first and make sure that child was breathing, before my wife would get out of bed. You carry that. I am convinced to this day my wife blamed me for what happened to Steven."

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Mirror reporter Susie Boniface questions Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Wearing the nuclear medal he campaigned five years for, he spoke about the shame of it being delivered by post rather than in a special ceremony, and demanded Labour deliver four promises - a full public inquiry, the missing records, a Hillsborough Law to improve public accountability, and compensation for those affected.

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John, of Rochdale, said: “How can my doctor, any hospital, treat me when they don’t know what they’re treating me for? Both of my daughters have had miscarriages. One of my daughters has been told it would be better if she did not have children because of the possible ramifications that could happen. And my story is not unusual. It is the story of thousands of veterans, who have had all sorts of health problems. The cover-up has got to stop.”

In a packed event, Rayner told him: “It’s really difficult to hear what you’ve been through, what your family’s been through, and still not to even be given the respect of the truth, I think it’s disgusting.”

She pledged to work with Keir Starmer to deliver full transparency to nuclear veterans and said anything less eroded trust in government.

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Shadow Veterans Minister Rachel Hopkins, Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, Mirror reporter Susie Boniface, test veteran John Morris, Labrats founder Alan Owen and descendant Steve Purse discuss the nuked blood scandal (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

“How can we have trust and confidence in our governments and what we’re doing if they’re not transparent?” she said. “After hearing what you’ve said today John I’m going to really push hard to meet your four asks and to do everything I can to make sure that, in your lifetime, I’m able to give you that, so that you can have that reassurance, so that at least the transparency and level of scrutiny will be there. With government comes responsibility and it’s about time that people accepted that responsibility. The medal means nothing without it.”

The Mirror has established that the Ministry of Defence has repeatedly misled Parliament about the blood tests, which were taken from thousands of troops over more than a decade of weapons tests, and would provide a definitive answer about whether radiation entered their bodies. Last month the Atomic Weapons Establishment finally admitted it held at least 150 files about it, with blood tests hidden in scientific data from the trials. The government has refused to publish them.

Rayner said if the nuclear veterans could get the answers, it would restore faith in government and ensure transparency for key workers and uniformed personnel today.

“If you can’t trust your government you’re in a very serious position,” she said. “The testimony that you’ve given is absolutely frightening. I will look in your eyes and make sure I do everything we can to give you what you need.”

Asked to guarantee that if they gain power, Labour ministers would not believe the denials of the MoD, she said: “It’s not about what you can get away with, it’s about your values, what you stand for… Those documents should be released. Those things should be transparent. Having that culture of transparency. If we can do that, with your help, we will get to that place where we can hold the system as a whole to account.”

Shadow Veterans Minister Rachel Hopkins criticised Johnny Mercer for refusing to help the veterans find out the truth, and advising them instead to sue the government. “It’s just appalling,” she said. “It’s totally dysfunctional and doesn’t show any real respect… The country owes you a debt of gratitude. If we earn that privilege to serve, we will stand with our nuclear test veterans, we will make sure that we’re on your side and work towards righting this historic injustice and absolute transparency. ”

Descendant Steve Purse said he had been refused access to his father’s medical records, even though he and his widow mum Jacqui have a lawful right to them. “It wears you down, it’s tiring, it’s on your mind constantly. I need those records. We’re a civilised society, or we’re supposed to be, but how can you call yourselves civilised when we can’t even look after groups like us. We’re only asking for a simple truth," he said.