'We must demand better for our armed forces community'

For centuries, the Royal Marines and the British Army have been simultaneously feared and admired; renowned for their efficiency and their professionalism. However, in recent years under successive Governments, we have seen the size of our standing Army diminished.

Conservative Ministers are now pushing to reduce the size of the Army to just 73,000 soldiers. I served in the Army for over a decade. I know the pressure these cuts will place on those currently serving.

Our soldiers are flexible and trained to respond in emergencies, but they are increasingly being asked to take on tasks that are not their core business. They are often seen by some in Westminster as a sort of slush-fund of personnel who can support Ministers; the go-to in any self-imposed political crisis.

Last winter we saw thousands of troops pulled out of training to support core public services because of the Conservative Government’s failure resolve the ongoing strikes. This is not something that people who sign up to serve should be asked to do.

We’ve seen the situation facing military families and spouses get worse, as the quality of our military accommodation has continued to decline. The backlog of urgent maintenance work has spiralled, leaving many living in cold, leaking, or mouldy homes.

Here in the south west, we have a long, proud military history – boasting the largest naval base in Western Europe at Devonport; the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre at Lympstone; and the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton.

We must stand together to demand better for all those in the armed forces community. This includes those currently serving, their family and loved ones; those who have served previously; and those who serve in the Reserves.

It’s only by ensuring we get a fair deal for the whole armed forces and veterans’ community that we can ensure our armed services remain at ready to do their primary role of protecting our liberty and democracy.