The Veterans Minister said he feared Sir Keir Starmer’s party has no credible plan and would wreck the Tory legacy on making Britain the best country for those who have left the Armed Services.
Mr Mercer, the UK’s first ever minister in the role, said around 400 people have been referred to Op Fortitude – the programme set up to tackle homelessness in the veteran community – since it was launched in July. There are 900 spaces available.
He said: “I want to get to a place where we have no veterans sleeping rough because of a lack of provision.
“I’m determined to get there. It’s quite a hard goal because there’ll be veterans who won’t self declare that they are homeless but I’ll do everything I can to find them.”
It is unknown exactly how many homeless veterans there are. A Combined Homelessness and Information Network report published in July stated 5% of people seen rough sleeping in the year to March in London had served in the Armed Forces.
Paul Wise, 49, who has endured homelessness since serving in the Royal Marines, said his life has been “transformed” after being given a home at Mike Jackson House in Aldershot. He said: “It’s the best thing that’s happened in a long time. It’s given me stability.”
Mr Mercer warned that Sir Keir will scrap the Troubles Legacy Bill if he got into No10.
It ended Troubles-era court cases and inquests and gives a conditional amnesty to those accused of killings and other Northern Ireland-related crimes from the time. An Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery to take over legacy cases is also being established.
Mr Mercer said: “If you speak to veterans – particularly those who served in the Seventies, Eighties or Nineties – and ask what is the totemic symbol of their abandonment by their government, they will say their life ruining attempted prosecutions in Northern Ireland.
“Keir Starmer has made it his key pledge to bin that bill that we brought in to let these people live their lives out in some degree of peace. So if you’re a veteran, I have no idea how you could campaign for or be part of the Labour Party going into this next election.”
A Labour spokesman said: “Any legacy legislation must deliver for victims of the Troubles. The government’s Bill did not pass this test because it failed to engage with those most affected when drawing it up. Labour will repeal the Legacy Act and find a way forward with support from communities in Northern Ireland.
“Over 13 years of failure, Ministers have halved employment support and failed to roll out veterans ID cards.
“In government, Labour would deliver a boost to veterans’ mental health services and ensure former personnel have access to high quality, affordable homes fit for heroes.”
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