I am proud to support the poppy appeal 2023, launching the local effort by laying a wreath with Vera ‘Mrs Poppy’ Parnaby and the fantastic cadets from 1409 Consett Squadron - Air Cadets at Christ Church, #Consett today.
Every year, the appeal allows us not only to support our servicemen and women, veterans and their families but also it gives us much-needed space to remember all the men and women who served, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
People who gave their tomorrows for our today deserve to be venerated. I am proud that we have become the best country in the world to be a veteran. With a dedicated Veterans Minister in the Cabinet in ex-Marine Johnny Mercer, we have been able to support veterans like never before.
From specific programmes reaching vulnerable veterans in the criminal justice system, to a compassionate but aggressive pathway to end the stain of veterans’ homelessness in the United Kingdom this year, we have achieved for veterans what previous Governments could only talked about.
I pay tribute to the unwavering bravery, patriotism and courage of our Veterans and look forward to continuing to support them in Parliament and locally in North West Durham this remembrance time and beyond.