Our Manifesto for the 2024 General Election

In 2023, we launched our eleven top priorities for veterans that we are pushing for the main political parties in the UK to adopt in their manifestoes for the upcoming General Election.

Our top 11 priorities

We have prioritised policies that aim to reduce the costs and demand on public services in the long-term, specifically the NHS. These policies should simultaneously improve the standard of living, financial independence, and wellbeing of veterans. These priorities are

1. Commission an independent review of the medical discharge process.
2. Disregard War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme as income from benefits and pensions.
3. End the practice of amputees having to undergo multiple Work Capability and Personal Independence Payments Reassessments.
4. Add chronic pain as a condition within the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme tariffs.
5. Establish a compensation scheme for nuclear test veterans and their families.
6. Reinstate long-term funding for the Veterans' Hearing Loss Fund.
7. Abolish application fees for indefinite leave to remain for all non-UK citizens who have served in the UK Armed Forces for four years and their dependent family members.
8. Resettle all eligible family members of Afghan Locally Employed Civilians who have not arrived in the UK by the end of 2024.
9. Establish a financial compensation scheme for LGBT+ veterans who were wrongfully discharged prior to the lifting of the pre-2000 ban on homosexuality in the Armed Forces.
10. Commit to maintain the Office for Veteran Affairs headed by the cabinet-attending minister.
11. Extend the scope of the Armed Forces Covenant in law.

What we're doing

• In 2023, we held receptions and panel events at the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour Party Conferences to launch our manifesto platform.
• Through 2023 and 2024 we have met with MPs, peers and party officials from all the major political parties to build support and campaign for these asks to be included in their General Election manifestos.

Download the full manifesto

If you want more information on this campaign, please contact our Senior Public Affairs and Policy Manager Ted Arnold at ted.arnold@helpforheroes.org.uk