SHARON HODGSON: Striving to give our veterans everything that they deserve

Like many of my constituents, I was deeply saddened to not be able to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of so many in the usual way.

However, I was fortunate enough to join volunteers in my constituency to sell poppies, and was also able to lay a wreath, in October, to remember and pay tribute to all those who have served, and continue to do so.

In these difficult times, we can look for inspiration and pride to those wartime generations and those currently serving, as well as the 20,000 service men and women who have supported our key workers and communities in response to this pandemic.

Since March, thousands of armed forces personnel have worked to deliver personal protective equipment, establish and run mobile testing centres across our region, and to construct Nightingale Hospitals, such as the Nightingale North East in Washington.

I also pay tribute to former service personnel who, on returning to civilian life, have continued to support Veterans Charities, and who during the pandemic have volunteered to provide food packages to those in need, and who have offered a helping hand and some company to the most vulnerable in our communities.

They are, and continue to be, committed to our country.

Our armed forces do so much for us.

In return, we must do more than thank and pay tribute to them.

We need to make sure that they are protected, and they have the support they need.

That includes decent pay, pensions, housing and support for them and their families.

I am incredibly proud to be Labour’s Shadow Minister for Veterans, and will always be very grateful to our Armed Forces for all they have done and continue to do, particularly throughout the Covid-19 crisis.

I am committed to working with the Armed Forces Community to give a voice to serving personnel and veterans, and to ensure they get the conditions and respect they deserve.