A Fair Deal for our Armed Forces and veterans

The Liberal Democrats marked Armed Forces Day by calling for those serving and veterans and their families to be given a Fair Deal.
The Liberal Democrats manifesto includes measures to reverse the troop cuts which have left the army at its smallest size since the Napoleonic era, strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant and an ambition to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP.
After witnessing local companies sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant at a ceremony organised by Asian Business Connexions (pictured here), Robin Ashby, who is an Armed Forces Champion in Newcastle, said 
“We express our gratitude to every single person who is serving or has served in our armed forces.
“Each one of them has given so much in order to keep us all safe and they deserve a fair deal, worthy of the sacrifices they and their families have made.
“That is why the Liberal Democrats are proud to have put forward a manifesto that would give veterans, their families, and those serving the resources and the support that they deserve and need to keep us safe.”
The Party’s manifesto puts forward proposals for a new commission aimed at securing a cross-party consensus on improving conditions for serving personnel and veterans. It also includes plans to:
* Reverse the 10,000 personnel troop cuts 
* Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP
* Improve military housing 
* Strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant by placing a legal duty on the Defence Secretary and government departments to give it due regard
* Accept the recommendations of the Atherton Report on women in the armed forces
* Ensure that military compensation for illness or injury does not count towards means testing benefits
* Establish a “Fair Deal for Service Personnel, Veterans and Families Commission”