Veterans' affairs minister Johnny Mercer visits Watford

After being invited by Watford MP Dean Russell, Minister for Veterans' Affairs Johnny Mercer visited the town to learned about local work to support the veteran community.

The visit, on April 27, started at the Sun Sports Social Club in Cassiobury where he met with some veterans, alongside former Watford FC player Luther Blissett, who spoke on their work with Forces United.

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Spending the day with @LBliss8 and @dean4watford talking about veterans in football and doing some campaigning.. lots of similar factors making life tough when a football career ends. We will work closely together. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/a3psU1d7Lw

— Rt Hon Johnny Mercer (@JohnnyMercerUK) April 27, 2023

After the discussion of veterans in football the MP highlighted the “similar factors making life tough when a football career ends”.

Mr Mercer then travelled to Abbots Langley, where he met with the local veterans support group. He was questioned on issues including housing for those coming out of the armed forces and access to veteran friendly GP practices.

ONS figures from 2022 revealed that more than a thousand people living in Watford are veterans of the UK armed forces.

Left to right: Norman Mcguigan, Paul Kane, Johnny Mercer, Liz Burns, Dean Russell (Image: Dean Russell)

Watford MP Dean Russell said: “I would like to thank all members of our veterans community for taking the time to meet with the minister today, and I’d like to thank the minister for coming to visit us.”

Johnny Mercer MP visiting Watford (Image: Dean Russell)