​Just 2% of Swansea’s veterans have received their promised ID card from the UK Government

​Just 2% of Swansea’s veterans have received promised ID card
 
Just 2% of veterans in the region have received Government ID cards to help them access the services they need, as Gower MP, Tonia Antoniazzi has organised a Veterans’ Voice event to hear local concerns.
 
In Swansea just 155 veterans ID cards have been rolled out to 8000 veterans.
 
The Government promised to provide every veteran in the UK with a card in 2019, designed to provide speedy access to health, housing and charity services.
 
But figures from the ONS confirm there are more than 1.8 million veterans in England and Wales, and just 56,000 ID cards have been given out since 2018, meaning just 3% veterans have been given a card in five years.
 
In December, Veterans’ Minister Johnny Mercer has promised to rollout all remaining ID cards by this summer. However, analysis conducted by the Labour Party also showed that at the current rate of delivery, it will take more than a century to give every veteran a card.
 
Tonia Antoniazzi MP has accused the Government of failing veterans prior to holding an event with former personnel as part of Labour’s Veterans’ Voice campaign.
 
Tonia is holding a Veteran’s Voice event in Gowerton Rechabite Hall on May 31st at 6.30 pm.
 
Veterans’ Voice is Labour’s nationwide listening campaign to link up with veterans and their families and shape the party’s plans for the next general election.
 
Shadow Veterans Minister Rachel Hopkins said:
“The Conservatives like to talk up their support for our forces, but it’s clear that they are failing our veterans.
 
“The veterans ID card is supposed to help our society keep its promise to those who serve by ensuring quick access to services like healthcare. But Conservative ministers have delivered just a fraction of the cards needed.
 
“Our veterans don’t need empty promises, they need action. That’s why Labour has launched its Veterans’ Voice campaign to hear directly from former personnel and their families, and put their lived experiences at the heart of our future policy offer.”
 
Tonia Antoniazzi MP said:
“It is crystal clear that this Government is letting down veterans in Swansea. Ministers make sweeping promises about support they will deliver but it’s all talk.
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“Labour’s Veterans’ Voice campaign will listen to veterans in Swansea and Gower carefully. We will step up where this Government has failed.”