Edinburgh South Lib Dem team slams Labour's record on Veteran support (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Liberal Democrats)

Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Edinburgh South Lib Dem team slams Labour's record on Veteran support

January 12, 2010 1:36 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Following the Government's statement on medical care for veterans the Edinburgh South Liberal Democrats have slammed Labour's record on support for former servicemen and woman. Currently 1 in 10 prisoners in Britain are former service personnel, while snapshot surveys suggest that the number of homeless people in Britain who have been in the armed services is somewhere between 10 and 15%.

Edinburgh South Westminster Spokesman Fred Mackintosh said,"Labour record on this issue is nothing short of a scandal. Not only is a continued lack of awareness leading to veterans not getting the priority medical care they are entitled to but many are completely let down by the system. They simply do not get the support they need from the Government while the voluntary sector is left to take up the slack.

"Sadly I know from my work as an Advocate in courts across Scotland that too many veterans have slipped through every safety net and end up in trouble with the police or on the streets. Our veterans deserve better than more warm words from the Government. Targeted action is needed both to improve support services and awareness of what is available."

Mike Pringle Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh South said, "We have known for some time that many doctors and veterans are unaware that former servicemen and women who are injured while serving are entitled to priority NHS treatment. Raising awareness of the scheme is a step in the right direction but sadly this does not guarantee that veterans will get the treatment they deserve.

"The scheme needs to be much more closely monitored to ensure veterans who have risked their lives for this country are not ignored by the health service."

Notes:

1. Liberal Democrats are campaigning for a better deal for our troops for full details visit http://andrewstunell.org.uk/pages/afairdealforourtroops.html

All figures are sourced from http://www.bigissuescotland.com/features/view/162

2. Fred Mackintosh is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh South the ninth most marginal constituency in Britiain with just 405 votes separating Labour and the Liberal Democrats. In October 2009 a major poll by Politics Home predicted that Edinburgh South would be a Lib Dem gain at the next General Election. http://www.edinburghsouthlibdems.org/pages/thefacts.html