Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend one of the Watford and District Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Clubs. This organisation is run by veterans for veterans and its ethos is on mutual help for those who have served our country.

It was a tremendous experience to meet people who had served and their family members, talking about their life experiences, how they met, what they did in the forces, where they’d been, and what they have done since. There were some amazing stories told.

What was also very noticeable was the enthusiasm there was to help and support each other. If a person was looking to get into a particular type of work, there would be someone in the network to offer advice, or a connection.

Watford is part of the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant and it aims to ensure that veterans and those in the armed forces are not disadvantaged when trying to access services. Indeed, Watford Council gives ‘additional preference’ on its housing register to those who have served in the armed forces.

But it’s a different story for those presently serving. The Government is seriously letting them and their families down with the standard of accommodation they are enduring. Stories of broken boilers, leaks, mould, vermin, and endless waits for basic repairs are commonplace. In 2022, satisfaction with the overall standard of service accommodation plunged below 50 per cent and in Hertfordshire, half of all service personnel are living in sub-standard housing.

Labour has launched a ‘Homes Fit for Heroes’ campaign to end this scandal. Focussing on service personnel and their families will make sure that those on the front line don’t have to worry about the home front.

  • Cllr Matt Turmaine is Labour's Parliamentary candidate for Watford