Like many towns and communities across the country, Southend marked Veterans Day on 27 June with public displays performed by serving members of the armed forces and ceremonies centered on veteran members. But these public acts of recognition are not known by everybody. This country still has an awkward attitude towards its military personnel. Unlike other Western democracies, the civilian population is largely unaware of what the armed forces actually do and – as shown by some recent, notorious examples – there are increasing incidents of public abuse of personnel in uniform.
There is no doubt that the armed forces are busier than ever after 11 years of a Labour government. They have been involved in more conflicts and peacekeeping missions combined as compared to the previous 50 years. Yet there are fewer personnel now, and public awareness and respect has diminished.
Some might say we should be proud of an anti-militarist tradition. We have not had a military coup since 1660 and even then, it was to restore a non-military regime. But the suspicion of a powerful army should rightly be grounded in an opposition to military government. A modern democracy needs to be defended by armed forces which understand what they are fighting for and which have a respected role within society.
Following the First World War, these two criteria used to be simple enough. A soldier fought for Queen and Country. And everyone had at least one close family member who had served in the armed forces. But all such certainty has been blurred by both the changing role of Britain in the world and the gradual development of a vast majority of society being untouched by war.
This should concern a government of any colour but for a Labour government, any perceived neglect of the armed forces hurts our mission to bring social justice to both Britain and the wider world. The support of our armed forces should be a crucial element of Labour’s priorities. How so?
First, defending the British national interest no longer means just ensuring we can repel an invasion (if it ever was that limited). The national interest means that apparently distant threats such as political or religious terrorism, or conflict over natural resources are potentially matters that can seriously affect our own people. Moreover as internationalists, we have a duty to help our fellow human beings who cannot defend themselves against acts of tyranny and genocide. These are principles that ought to inspire serving and potential soldiers.
Second, for all the problems of class and prejudice that have undoubtedly existed in the armed forces, there is also the collective enterprise that is essential to operational success. In an increasingly atomised society, such camaraderie needs to be valued and promoted among the wider public.
As usual, money is important to improving morale and conditions, including equipment and living accommodation. But although spending has risen continuously in real terms over the past decade, much of the increase has gone on huge military hardware projects. Future spending should be more tightly focused on the serving human beings and their families. We need more of them.
Much harder will be rebuilding public support. Pictures of union flag-draped coffins and occasional public marches in towns are the most that many of us see. The government should encourage far greater interaction, if not through a public holiday, but with home-based units carrying out small public works in our communities and giving personnel more scope to talk about their work in public forums.
We as a nation have always been meticulous in respected and commemorating our fallen dead; we as a government need not only to value our living service personnel and veterans, but lead the public as a whole to do the same.
Kevin Bonavia is Labour’s parlimentary candidate for Rochford & Southend East