AFTER 70 YEARS - WE DID IT!
a challenge to the UK
prime minister
LABRATS in partnership with the Daily Mirror 'A medal for Heroes' campaign are challenging the UK Prime Minister.
In December 2020, the UK Government accepted the recommendation from the Advisory Military Sub-Committee not to award the UK Atomic veterans a medal in recognition for their service. Claiming that they did not meet the Risk and Rigour needed.
We are now challenging the UK Prime Minister through our 'Look Me In The Eye' campaign to meet with Veterans and their families. Since Atomic testing started in 1952, no UK Prime Minister has ever met with the veterans in an official capacity.
On the 28th of June 2021, Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour party, met with Alan Owen and representatives of the Nuclear Community. (John Morris, Laura Morris, Jacqueline Purse, Steve Purse and Susie Boniface) This is a major step forward in our campaign for justice. Click HERE for the full article
On the 17th November 2021, Rebecca Long-Bailey questioned the Prime Minister at Prime Ministers Questions and asked him to meet with John and other representatives, he agreed to this meeting. Click HERE for the full article.
On the 25th November 2021, our founder Alan Owen in a video produced by Brian Cowden informed the Prime Minister why the meeting is so important to the veterans and their families.
On the 14th December 2021, representatives of our campaign met with the Metro Mayers (Andy Burnham - Manchester and Steve Rotheram - Liverpool. They pledged their support for the campaign. Telling the veterans that they were victims of a crime. Images of the meeting below. Click HERE for the full article.
On the 23rd March 2022, Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey at Prime Ministers Questions says the Mirror newspaper uncovered data showing the govt may have given wrong figures about people exposed to radiation through nuclear testing in the past.
The Prime Minsiter says his office is organising a proper meeting on the issue.
On the 19th April 2022 South Holland MP Sir John Hayes asks for personal assurances from the Prime Minister that nuclear test veterans will be honoured during PMQs.
Sir John asked: "Will he now assure the House that he will take personal charge of the decision on whether to grant the remaining servicemen, for there are few left, the service medal they so richly deserve."
In response, the Prime Minister thanked Sir John for campaigning on the issue and said: "I certainly will take personal charge of the matter myself and make sure they receive the recognition they deserve."
A dedicated team of people are working extremely hard to ensure that the meeting with the Prime Minister goes ahead, with the correct representation. We continue to fight for truth and justice. Below are messages of support on the banner.
On the 8th of June 2022, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with representatives of the campaign and listened to their stories. He looked each one of us in the eye.
Listening to the stories of John Morris, Laura Morris, Steve Purse, Jacqueline Purse, Laura Jackson, and Alan Owen the PM was shocked to hear the trauma of the tests and how it has affected the servicemen and their families.
Representatives of the Office for Veterans Affairs and the Minister for Defence People and Veterans Leo Docherty listened to the testimonies and the evidence.
The PM said 'I have never been educated about this', if the testing program is not taught at Eton, arguably the top school in the country, then the education on nuclear testing has failed. It needs to be added to the curriculum. It is a disgrace that the nuclear testing program has not been taught to generations of children.
During the meeting, the PM was presented with the New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans medal, which was agreed by Her Majesty the Queen. The PM was shocked to hear that the UK had not formally recognised the veterans and that we are the last testing country to do so, especially as the Isle of Man had done so, compensating their nuclear veterans.
The PM gave us 40 minutes of his time, which we are extremely grateful for, he has stood by his promise to meet with us and look us in the eye. John Morris who was present at Operation Grapple said to the PM "You have looked me in the eye, you can now tell me that I am worthy of recognition or tell me to sod off."
Sir John Hayes re-iterated that a previous PM had awarded a medal to the Arctic Convoys and urged him to do the same, stating that it is the right thing to do.
Watch the video diary of the meeting below:
Coverage of the meeting has been worldwide, including SKY News. Below are a few headline articles:
On the 28th June, representatives of the campaign met with the Director of The Office for Veterans' Affairs, Jessie Owen to discuss the recognition package and how we can work together to ensure not only medallic recognition but education and research in the future.
The meeting was very productive and the collaborative working environment is enabling great progress to end the 70 years of injustice.
A further meeting was held on the 19th July.
On the 21st of July 2022, a video was released, reminding the Prime Minister that he had promised to take personal responsibility for medallic recognition before he leaves office on the 5th September.
Representatives of the campaign met with the Office for Veteran's Affairs again in August to discuss progress. On the 5th of September 2022, Boris Johnson resigned as Prime Minister, one of his last acts in office was to announce details of a memorial service and to commission an oral history piece. He also stated that it is his firm belief that the veterans deserved a medal and that work is underway to make it happen. Read his letter below.
The release of this open letter was received very well by the nuclear community and we continue to work with the Office for Veteran's Affairs on the medallic recognition and an announcement on or around the 3rd October.
On the 20th of September, Jessie Owen (Director of the Office for Veterans Affairs) spoke to the audience at the All tests Reunion at Weston-Super-Mare. Jessie also answered questions from the veterans and their decendants.
On the 25th September, the campaign held a Fringe Event at the Labour Party Conference, organised by the Daily Mirror, the panel consisted of Alison Phillips (Daily Mirror Editor), Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester), Susie Boniface (Chair), Rebecca long-Bailey MP, John Healey MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Defence), John Morris (Operation Grapple Veteran), Alan Owen and Steve Purse (Descendant). The meeting was also attended by Rachel Hopkins MP. The Labour Party re-issued their pledge to ensure that the Nuclear Veterans are fully recognised and included in their Election manifesto. Pictures courtesy of the Daily Mirror.
On the 26th of September, Steve Purse participated in the Hillsborough Law Fringe Event at the Labour Party Conference. His speech was very powerful.
Read Susie Boniface's article in the Daily Mirror after Rebecca Long-Bailey MP stated that Liz Truss can reclaim credibility if she ends the nuclear test veterans scandal.
On the 8th of November, representatives of the British Nuclear Test Veterans marched on the Cenotaph, Number 10 Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence, all wearing missing medal badges. The demonstration was supported by many MP's and celebrities.
Armed Police intervened at the Ministry of Defence. Campaigners were determined to ensure that they were heard.
AFTER 70 YEARS - WE DID IT!
On the 21st of November 2022 at a Commemorative ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, along with Ben Wallace Mppand Johnny Mercer MP announced that he was ending 70 years of denial, by awarding a medal to the participants of the British Nuclear Testing program. Our campaign has been a success and these brave men and their families will officially be recognised.
There are so many people to thank for the success of this campaign, including Susie Boniface, Alison Phillips, Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Rachel Hopkins MP, John Healey MP, Emily Thornberry MP, Sir Keir Starmer, Stephanie Peacock MP, Charlie Rowley, Sir John Hayes MP, Johnny Mercer MP, Ben Wallace MP, Rishi Sunak MP, Jonathan Edwards MP, Carol Monaghan MP, Ian Blackford MP, Andy Burnham, Chris Thomas, Steve Rotheram, Al Murray, Heidi Thomas, Stephen McGann, Mark Steel, Rory Bremner, Jessie Owen, Ariella Combe, Maryam Duale, Hannah Dean, Jamie Sefton, Andrew Brookes, Siobhain McDonagh MP, Andrew Gwynne MP, Julian Lewis MP, Luke Pollard MP, Emma Lewell-Buck MP, Chris Evans MP and everyone who has supported us.
The #lookmeintheye working group of Steve Purse, Jacqueline Purse, John Morris, Laura Morris, Elizabeth Bacon, Susie Boniface, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Charlie Rowley and Chris Thomas have worked tirelessly on the campaign, giving up their time to make this campaign a success.
But finally, to the Directors of LABRATS and their families, Eric Barton, Janet Barton, Susan Musselwhite, Lucy Musselwhite, Mel Owen and Alan Owen, we did it, we ended 70 years of denial and it feels great. It is just the start, but it is a massive achievement of which everyone should be proud.
For the people who tried to stop the campaign, said 'I hope it fails because of the people involved', we promised we would never stop until formal recognition was given to the nuclear veterans, we achieved it, despite your attempts to stop us.
THIS IS FOR ALL THE NUCLEAR VETERANS, SCIENTISTS, CIVILIANS AND THE FAMILIES.
Following the award of the medal, the Advisory Military Sub-Committee released their findings, the committee rejected all submissions for a campaign medal, but due to pressure from stakeholders, the HD committee awarded a commemorative medal.
The AMSC has considered this case carefully, including any submissions from relevant interested external parties.
The AMSC’s recommendation to the HD Committee for the claim listed above was not to award a military service medal. This followed the AMSC’s assessment of the evidence provided against the longstanding framework for military medallic recognition. The HD Committee reviewed the conclusions reached by the AMSC and was in agreement that the above case does not meet the criteria of risk and rigour required for a military service medal.
However, despite the decision not to award a military medal, and after considering inputs from other stakeholders, the HD Committee felt that there was a case for alternative recognition outside the remit of AMSC. The service given by the nuclear test veterans - both military and civilian - was significant in providing the UK’s nuclear deterrent during the critical early years of the Cold War.
The HD Committee agreed that an official commemorative medal which recognised both military and civilian contributors to the nuclear tests would be most appropriate. This non-military medal has been approved in principle by His Majesty The King.