Liz Truss has been accused of abandoning our most mistreated heroes in her race for power.
MPs have united to warn her she risks betraying nuclear test veterans if she does not deliver on promises to mark the Plutonium Jubilee today.
Ex-commando and former Tory minister Johnny Mercer has teamed up with Labour’s Dan Jarvis, who served in the Parachute Regiment, to demand the PM “step forward and do her duty, as these men did”.
In a blistering joint statement, they say they were expecting Truss to honour victims of Cold War experiments by delivering a medal and public, national commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the UK’s first bomb test on October 3, 1952.
Instead she will be at the Tory conference, trying to convince her party she can be trusted.
Image:
NurPhoto/PA Images)“Politicians must stop promising things for veterans when trying to win elections and immediately reneging on those commitments when in power," the two men say.
"If she fails in her promises to these heroes of the Cold War, the Prime Minister would be betraying them and their families.”
Just a month ago, Truss told the Mirror she backed a medal for all those ordered to take part in the testing programme. They went on to develop cancers and rare medical conditions, while their wives endured miscarriages and their children suffered 10 times the normal rate of birth defects.
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Tim Merry)But on day one in office, Truss blocked a medal by sacking the Treasury’s top civil servant Tom Scholar, who was also chairman of the main medal committee.
A replacement has now been appointed, but no decision made.
Former PM Boris Johnson ordered funds to be made available for the jubilee before he left Downing Street, but officials working on the plans say they have had no answers from No10 on how much cash there will be, when, or even if it will arrive.
And despite being invited by the Mirror FIVE TIMES to meet veterans, as Mr Johnson and Keir Starmer have both done, Truss has refused to discuss it.
Alan Owen, of campaign group LABRATS, who met both party leaders to tell them of his family’s genetic curse since dad James served at Operation Dominic in 1962, said: “Liz Truss lied to us and about us - it's as simple as that.
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Barry Gomer)“She used dead and dying men, their widows still grieving miscarriages, and thousands of descendants with birth defects, to get her to Number 10. The men who took part in Operation Hurricane in 1952 may not see another anniversary - for some this was their last shot at justice, and she stole it from them.”
Last week Labour activists, backbenchers, and the Shadow Cabinet all vowed to get the nuclear veterans into the party's nest manifesto, and leader Keir Starmer offered his personal support.
The Monte Bello islands off the north west coast of Australia, where the warship HMS Plym was blown up in the atomic experiment, is still considered so radioactive visitors are told not to stay more than an hour.
The Ministry of Defence, however, insists to this day the 1,500 servicemen who took part were not irradiated.
A spokesman for the PM was contacted for comment.
The joint statement from Dan Jarvis MP and Johnny Mercer MP
Today marks the 70th anniversary of Operation Hurricane, the creation of Britain's nuclear weapons.
It also marks the start of a dark chapter in our nation’s history.
On October 3, 1952, Britain detonated its first atomic bomb, later developing a nuclear deterrent.
Protecting us and our allies from the aggression of Cold War despots, it continues to stand for freedom and democracy against fear and oppression.
But for the past seven decades the men who took part in this and subsequent nuclear weapons tests have been ignored, and successive governments’ duty of care to their veterans abandoned.
They have endured a shattering legacy of cancers and suicides, miscarriages for their wives and birth defects among their children, while not being properly recognised for their service and supported with the care they needed and deserved.
After so many years, only a few survive. Those still alive are in their 80s and 90s. With support of the families of those who passed away and figures across the political spectrum, it was hoped that after the last Prime Minister met with them, these wrongs would be righted in time for the Plutonium Jubilee.
When the new Prime Minister promised her backing just a month ago, we expected her to make good on her commitments.
Despite promises of a medal, the chairman of the medal committee has been sacked, then replaced, and no decision made.
Despite assurances of funds being made available to commemorate the jubilee, Office of Veterans Affairs officials still have no idea what money there will be, or when.
Despite veterans being given hope of resolution, these men and their families continue to fight.
We believe that until the government of the day delivers full honours to these veterans, everyone who serves is at risk of the same disgraceful treatment.
These men did their duty and have paid for it every day since.
Recognising and repairing the breach between the nuclear veterans and the country they served has been overdue for decades.
Politicians must stop promising things for veterans when trying to win elections, and immediately reneging on those commitments when in power. They deserve better.
If she fails in her promises to these heroes of the Cold War, the Prime Minister would be betraying them and their families. We call on her now to step forward and do her duty, as these men did.
Dan Jarvis, MP for Barnsley Central
Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moor View