Charities call for review on compensation cap to LGBT veterans

Charities are calling for LGBT veterans who suffered historical mistreatment in the armed forces to be given 'adequate compensation' - following an independent review into the service.

A number of these organisations have written an open letter to the Prime Minister saying the pay cap to victims of the so-called 'gay ban' scandal before the millennium is too low.

The Veterans Minister Al Carns says the financial redress scheme will start in the New Year, after the Lord Etherton-led document recommended a £50 million ceiling on the total sum of remuneration payments.

Mr Carns told the Commons earlier this year that the treatment of LGBT veterans was "completely and utterly unacceptable".

Survivors of the scandal suffered days of sometimes brutal interrogation when it was discovered they were gay; many were dismissed from the forces, lost out on job opportunities and were shunned by families and friends.

The letter published on Wednesday argues that the cap on compensation could lead to "inadequate and unacceptably low" payments, with suggestions the average payout would be £12,500.

Signatories of the open letter addressed to Sir Keir Starmer include the chief executives of Fighting with Pride, Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion, Stonewall and Age UK.

'If I'd been found guilty of being gay, I would have been locked up'

Speaking to Hits Radio Pride, Craig Jones from Fighting With Pride, said it was a scary time.

He spent time in the South West, having served in Plymouth on the HMS Cornwall, and said: "In my time, before the Millennium, I very quickly came to know how harshly people like me were treated if we were found out.

"If anybody had discovered that I was gay whilst I was in Plymouth, I would have been taken away by the military police, arrested, and subject to a medical inspection.

"If I'd been found guilty of being gay, I would have been locked up for six months - probably in Dartmoor."

'Many veterans still haven't recovered'

Craig managed to survive the ban - but says so many others sadly didn't.

He added: "I was able to come out on January 12th 2000, when the ban was lifted - but so many of our veterans weren't so lucky.

"It's about recognising the fact that people lost their jobs; they were outed to their family and friends - and many veterans still haven't recovered from the repercussions of all that.

"When you think about the fact that LGBT veterans stood alone at the European Court 25 years ago, it's an incredible thing that they are now a welcomed part of the military family.

"We hope this open letter gives a strong message to the Government, and that they'll look again into the compensation cap over the next few weeks, and will make a further announcement."

'This is the moment for the Government to do the right thing'

Talking about the calls for compensation, he said it's about the Government 'doing the right thing'.

He added: "The funding intended for this scheme is inadequate and fails to take account of the shocking treatment inflicted upon a community of veterans who defended our peace and freedom but were treated in a way which the Prime Minister said had brought dishonour on our nation.

"This is the moment for the Government to do the right thing.

"We are aware that veterans minister Al Carns is working hard to find greater funding for this scheme, but more must be done to achieve payments that bring a sense of justice for LGBT Veterans affected by this awful policy.

"We must not miss the opportunity to extend the modern values of the armed forces to veterans who were shamed for decades."

The National Audit Office reported that up to 4,000 veterans are expected to be eligible for compensation.

Chief executive of Help for Heroes James Needham, said: "LGBT+ veterans, both before and immediately after the lifting of the ban in 2000, experienced an almost unique set of injuries due to this discriminatory policy, including wrongful imprisonment, loss of careers and pensions and exclusion from the veteran community.

"While progress has been made since then, we are concerned by the proposed compensation. Based on the Government's estimates, veterans affected by the ban would receive an average payment of just £12,500, which isn't enough to make up for the damage done to their lives.

"We're also disappointed that a promised debate in Parliament may not happen before the compensation scheme starts, which would be a missed opportunity for MPs to discuss and ensure fairness for those impacted."

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