Rishi Sunak promises rail fare cuts, enshrining veterans’ rights, and military qualifications recognition
On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made a new election promise aimed at veterans, including measures to reduce rail fares and legally protect their rights. Sunak unveiled a proposal to lower the cost of the Veterans Railcard from £30 to £21, aligning it with the price paid by serving personnel for the HM Forces Railcard. The Prime Minister also announced plans to introduce a Veterans Bill, which would for the first time ensure military qualifications hold the same legal status as civilian ones.
Alongside these measures, the Conservatives are proposing to extend the national insurance holiday for employers hiring ex-military personnel. Sunak stressed that the election would present a clear choice: vote for the Conservatives, who plan to enshrine veterans’ rights in law and offer a dedicated veterans’ minister, or vote for Labour, who he claimed lacked a plan for veterans and would “take us back to square one.”
The announcement follows a week of D-Day commemoration events, with both major political parties seeking to connect with veterans and the armed forces community. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pledged to introduce an armed forces tsar to represent military families and to fully enshrine the armed forces covenant in law, expanding support for the military community. This move comes as part of Starmer’s broader attempt to reframe Labour’s stance on defence, moving away from the policies of his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.
In response to Sunak’s pledge, Labour’s spokesperson criticised the Conservative record on veterans, accusing the party of delivering little despite years of promises. They pointed to the lack of a passed Veterans Bill since 2010, a low number of veterans receiving ID cards, and increasing rates of veteran homelessness.
The debate over veterans’ rights and support is expected to be a key issue in the upcoming election, with both parties competing to appeal to this important constituency.
