Chloe Smith MP to join the call for a National Defence Medal to honour all service men and women

Member of Parliament for Norwich North will join the call to Defence Ministers to award a National Defence Medal to all veterans of the Armed Forces who served for more than two years whether or not they saw armed conflict.

 

The Prime Minister appointed Sir John Holmes in April 2012 to conduct an independent review of the policy governing the award of military medals. He issued his report in July of the same year, which concluded that the existing guiding principles were reasonably based but that there should be greater readiness to review past decisions. Sir John was therefore commissioned to review independently a number of cases which had been brought to his attention as possible candidates for changed medallic recognition. The medals review included a review of the case for some form of National Defence Medal, to recognise all military service.

 

This has been subject to detailed discussion by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals which was not persuaded of the case at this time.

 

Chloe believes this decision does not adequately reflect the debt of gratitude owed to our Armed Forces and so will sign her name on Early Day Motion 641 to call on the Government to think again.

 

 

Chloe commented:

 

“Local veterans have asked my support on this issue, which I first took up in 2009.  I think that their ask is fair and I know that by signing this Early Day Motion I join people across Norwich who support giving our service men and women the recognition they deserve.”