70th Anniversary - Operation Hurricane

70 years on from the first British nuclear test 'Operation Hurricane', the UK Government has still not officially recognised the UK servicemen who took part in the Uk's testing program, running from 1952-1991.

An official announcement of a commemorative event, £450,000 towards projects is a small step forward for the #lookmeintheeye campaign but is still way short of formal medallic recognition, an apology, and war pension reform.

The campaign has achieved so much, but we are bitterly disappointed that the medallic announcement did not come on the 70th anniversary.

When we started the #lookmeintheeye campaign, its objective was to get in front of the people that mattered and tell the stories to the people who sit at the top table in government. Tell them of the suffering, the sacrifice and the injustice. We did that.

John Morris, Alan Owen and Steve Purse meeting Sir Keir Starmer

Steve Rotheram, Archie Hart, John Morris, Alan Owen and Andy Burnham.

Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Sir John Hayes MP, Susie Boniface, Boris Johnson MP, John Morris, Leo Docherty MP, Steve Purse, Alan Owen, Laura Morris, Laura Jackson and Jaqueline Purse.

We had five asks:

1. A national apology

2. A medal to recognise the service and sacrifice of these veterans

3. Financial support for veterans & families

4. UK-wide education program on the tests and their impact

5. Research for descendants

Alongside a commemorative event to recognise the veterans and their families, which should have taken place on NAVAD day on the 3rd October 2022.

Boris Johnson kept his word, he tasked his Ministers and the Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA) to ensure that we received recognition. The OVA has worked extremely hard on our asks, they continue to work on our behalf, with regular meetings (which never happened before the #lookmeintheye campaign). Director Jessie Owen and her team have worked very hard on our asks.

LABRATS submitted a new medal application for review in July, which contained new evidence, for review by the Advisory Military Sub-Committee (AMSC) and we understand that they met in August to discuss the new application.

Unfortunately, events beyond our control have affected the decision-making process, firstly Boris Johnson resigned from office and a leadership election took place, which wasted months of time, no decisions being made, while the OVA continued to work on our asks.

On the 5th of September, Boris Johnson confirmed his commitment to a medal for the servicemen and an announcement of an oral history project and further funding, as well as the commemorative event. The commemorative event was Susie Boniface's idea, backed by the Daily Mirror, one which we fully supported.

We then had a new Prime Minister, who had promised her support for veterans and for medallic recognition, and her first act was to sack Johnny Mercer MP, who had again been working on our behalf. His position as Veterans Minister was also abolished and the role merged back into the Armed Forces Minister's control.

Then, unfortunately the Queen passed away, which was an incredibly sad occasion for the whole country and one which obviously took precedence over anything else.

Further meetings with the OVA and Jessie Owen meeting the veterans at the All Tests Reunion meant that we understood that our deadline was not going to be met.

Nuclear Veterans at the All Tests Reunion

The new Prime Minister Liz Truss then sacked the Chairman of the Honours and Decorations committee and a scheduled meeting was postponed until a new Chairman was appointed we understand that they met to discuss the recommendations of the AMSC at the end of September.

The Labour Party are fully supportive of the campaign and we will be working with senior officials to ensure that it is in their election manifesto.

The Fringe Event organised by the Daily Mirror at the Labour Party Conference was a very emotional event and ensured that more people are aware of the campaign.

John Morris, Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, John Healey MP and Steve Purse at the Labour Party Conference

Representatives of the campaign laid wreaths at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the anniversary, and we thank them for their support.

Nuclear veterans and their families laying wreaths at the National Memorial Arboretum

You can listen to an interview by John Morris on Forces News discussing the announcement and the campaign.

Listen to John Morris Interview with Forces News.

The announcement of the £450,000 pot of funding and the commemorative event (at a date to be arranged) is welcome, it is a step in the right direction, but it is definitely not enough. Work is still ongoing with the OVA for our other asks, we await the medal decision and we all feel upset that this opportunity was missed, but it is not the end. It is just part of a long path to formal recognition. It is a win, without this campaign, we would not have any funding, no medal application in process, or the support of many MP's in government who now know about the nuclear test veterans and the testing program.

Read the Full Statement

It is disappointing and very frustrating, but the #lookmeintheeye committee has worked extremely hard on this campaign, and thousands of hours have been put in by many dedicated people to ensure formal recognition. We have faced many hurdles and challenges in this campaign, but we will not give up, the team is more committed than ever to ensure that all 5 of our asks are completed.

Looking at the positive aspects of the announcement, it was aired on more media outlets and picked up by different channels, including the Daily Telegraph. We now have the cross-party support of many MP's, celebrities, organisations, and thousands of individuals. The campaign has secured nearly half a million pounds in funding, now has regular meetings and interactions with the Office for Veterans' Affairs, has the total support of the Labour Party, cross-party support and has raised awareness of the testing program. Links across the world with other organisations and supporters have enhanced the campaign.

We are not there yet, there is still a lot to do, we have waited 70 years for recognition and we are closer than we have been for many years. We lose too many members of the nuclear community every week and the 'delay, deny until we die' approach undertaken by previous governments is still very much in the minds of the veterans and their families.

We are angry, we are upset, but we are working much closer with the OVA than ever before, we have more support than ever before, and we have some very dedicated people who are working extremely hard on this campaign. We need to take this announcement for what it is, a small win, a small step on the path to full recognition. We continue the fight for truth and justice.

You can help, write to your MP, contact your local media outlets and continue to raise your voice. If you need help, please contact us and we can supply materials to help you.

We will be marching at the Cenotaph in November with 23 attendees, honouring those who have not made it this far and reminding the UK Government that we are still here and still fighting an invisible enemy.

We will not allow you to go from 'Airburst to Airbrush' and be removed from history without the recognition you deserve.