Let me get this straight, an illegal immigrant who has not contributed to this country in any way, that had all his needs catered for; clean, warm, secure accommodation, a free laundry service, specialist food and drink provided free, medical and dental needs provided, spending money and free legal advice, decided to commit suicide and the far-left wing and liberal Human Rights advocates go into terminal melt down. The death of this person is quite naturally regrettable and clearly should not have happened.

Yet the death of homeless veterans by suicide at the rate of two a week is deemed perfectly acceptable by the Human Rights advocates and virtually all MPs within our political system. These veterans who have served this country loyally, paid taxes and all suffer from PTSD due to the horrors they have witnessed and whose entire life is whatever they can carry live on the streets. No clean, warm secure accommodation for them, no chance to clean their kit, only scraps for food, no medical or dental services, no free spending money, many have to beg on the cold streets and no lawyer fighting their corner.

There are wonderful veterans’ charities such as Help for Hero’s, Soldiers Off The Streets, The Rawthey Project to name just three, but where is the extensive support and help from the government and those in opposition? How about the Reform Party, is there any thought or policy on supporting our down and out veterans? All we hear is a constant mantra about stopping the boats and the illegal immigrants coming to our shores. The silence about the scandal of our veterans living and dying on the streets, that fall through the charity safety net, on our cold, wet winter streets is deafening. I find this state of affairs disturbing and a sad inditement of our country.

It would seem, very few care. Only the United Kingdom Independence Party have an effective policy to support our homeless veterans, to strive to provide warm, secure accommodation, to quickly and effectively meet their physical and mental needs, to provide counselling and training to ensure they can adjust to a life off the streets.

As we approach Christmas, please spare a thought for our homeless veterans and if you can also donate or help any of the veterans’ charities in any way, I urge you to do so.

I wish everyone, whatever your political allegiance, a safe and warm Merry Christmas; yes, even those of you who fervently disagree with my point of view.

Sqn Ldr Peter Richardson R’td

UK Independence Party Spokesman for Defence and Veterans