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Trust in the Establishment


For many decades, the Nuclear Test Veterans and their families have campaigned for the truth regarding the testing program and the effects that it has had on them.


A recent ministerial statement by Veterans Minister Al Carns does not go into enough detail regarding missing medical records, provides no deadline, and provides no details of what has been found so far.


The Merlin database is to be declassified in tranches, with no details on when, apart from 'Late Summer'. Requests for transparency and involvement in the process have all been denied.


You can read Al Carns' statement HERE:


If you ask any Nuclear Test Veteran or family member, any indigenous community member and anyone who has studied the effects of Nuclear testing, they all say the same: the Ministry of Defence (MoD) are covering up the truth. The MoD will delay, deny until they die. They are waiting for them all to die. They have no trust in the Establishment.


FRANCE


Every other testing country has accepted some responsibility. Most recently, a French parliamentary inquiry found that France must formally apologise to French Polynesia for the consequences of the nuclear tests conducted between 1966 and 1996, according to the findings of a parliamentary investigation report released on Tuesday.


The authors recall that 193 nuclear tests were carried out in Polynesia, mainly at Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls. They denounce the practices of the Pacific Experiment Center (CEP), accused of concealing the risks caused by local populations. "Radiation-protective devices" were often "lack, late, and partial," they noted.


In terms of public health, the CPS, the local social security organisation, amounts to more than one billion euros the cost of radio-induced pathologies. Hundreds of people are still waiting for official recognition of their trial-related illnesses.


Environmental damage is equally concerning: 46 of the tests were conducted in the atmosphere, leaving lasting traces. Despite attempts to repair, "biodiversity has been upset" and "pollution remains," the report states.


The International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the Observatory of Arms welcomed the "opening of a new page for truth and justice", calling for the immediate implementation of the 45 recommendations formulated.



Yet the UK remains silent on the calls for an inquiry into the British testing program.


USA


The RECA legislation (which has been expanded) is making its way through the judicial system in the USA after lapsing in 2024. Yesterday, it passed through the Senate. Although it still excludes many people, it has paid out over two billion dollars in payments.


UK


Yet the UK has denied, then lied in Parliament about the existence of blood and urine tests:


Hansard Debate - 28/11/2023 - Read the transcript HERE


In 2018 it was stated that:


“The Ministry of Defence is unable to locate any information that suggests that Atomic Weapons Research Establishment staff took blood samples for radiological monitoring at the tests.”


Then, in November 2022 last year, it was stated that:


“The Atomic Weapons Establishment holds copies of the results of urine radioactivity measurements and blood tests for a small number of individuals where these were included in scientific documentation on the nuclear weapons trials.”


In December 2022, the opposite was again indicated:


“We would also like to take this opportunity to confirm that AWE does not hold the medical records or the results of blood and urine tests for current or ex-servicemen.”


That merry-go-round of confusion goes round and round, month after month, with every question asked and response received.


The latest statement from Al Carns suggests that they are looking for a policy to take such blood and urine tests. Rebecca Long-Bailey MP has already given him the answer:


"The Minister himself has stated that it is likely that the blood tests

are simply categorised in scientific data at the AWE. That may of course

be the case, but for that data even to exist in the first place, the sample

results had to come first, so what happened to them? I truly intend to be

helpful to the Minister in getting to the bottom of this puzzle."


We have access to 150 records from the Merlin Database (ACCESSIBLE HERE) that contain the words "blood and/or urine." So the records exist, the bloods were taken, so who lied in 2018? Why have they not been made accountable for their actions?


In an interview following BBC Newsnight, Luke Pollard MP - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for the Armed Forces) stated that:


"I want to see Justice for the folks that were exposed

to Nuclear Testing all those decades ago, because we are running

out of time for many of them, still being around. But we know the

 consequences of many of those people participating in those tests

are carried not just by the individuals but by their family members.

That is why we want to work out what we can declassify and share

so we can get to the heart of trying to get justice for those

individuals.



Did a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State just admit that they know the consequences of testing affect not just the veterans and their families? If he knows, why isn't the UK Government finally admitting it? Why are they hiding behind this records exercise?


Many veterans and campaigners have fought since 1982 for the truth. Will this Labour government finally deliver? Our requests for a meeting with John Healey and Keir Starmer have fallen on deaf ears. Should we trust the process?


The Met Police have opted out of deciding on the misconduct in public office charge, stating that AWRE is in the Thames Valley region, passing it to Thames Valley Police to make a decision. Perhaps when coming out of New Scotland Yard, they should look left to the big MoD building that stands next door.


We know the Ministry of Defence have not told the truth. They have for years changed their statements; they rewrote the conclusion of the NRPB Study, and we have the evidence.


How much more evidence is needed? Why is the UK the only testing country to deny any responsibility?


A recent article from long-time campaigner Sue Rabbit Roff highlighted Luke Pollard's admission. (READ IT HERE) In it, she states:


"The incumbent Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

for the Armed Forces has just conceded virtually every litigated

point that has been denied in half a dozen major court cases over

the past 30 years."


Was this a slip by Luke Pollard, or is the UK Government preparing to finally admit that they lied about the effects, covered up the truth and have gaslighted the veterans for decades?


We continue to meet monthly with the Office for Veterans' Affairs, and we continue the pressure through campaigning, working with multiple organisations and an incredible set of people who will never give up.


3.3 million people have watched Peter Stefanovic's video on the scandal. You can watch it HERE

You can watch the full BBC Newsnight program on the British nuclear tests scandal on BBC iPlayer by clicking HERE


Will the Establishment finally tell the truth? Will they join the other testing countries and admit the damage to servicemen, indigenous people and their families? This is a question for Sir Keir Starmer, John Healey and Al Carns.


The Labour Party were elected on fairness and transparency. Before we lose more veterans, it is time to apologise and compensate the families. We are waiting for your call Prime Minister.



 
 
 

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