A new campaign group dedicated to championing veterans has been celebrated by ex-SAS soldier Matt Hellyer, as it will bring back “respect” for them that he feels has been lost in Britain.
Speaking to GB News, the new president of Veterans for Reform said that looking after British service personnel has “gone amiss” in recent years.
Launching Veterans for Reform in London today, Nigel Farage said: “I promise you that a Reform Government will end all of these vexatious claims taken against our veterans from conflict after conflict.”
The announcement appeared to be a direct attack on Labour’s Troubles Bill, which is set to remove conditional immunity for Troubles-era crimes.
“It was a brilliant launch, well attended by veterans from all over the country that are really pining for some direction, pining for a group to belong to, and really pining for someone to help them,” Mr Hellyer told GB News.
The former special forces soldier emphasised that Britain’s ex-servicemen and women possess significant influence but have long felt ignored.
“They’ve got a big voice in this country and they’ve not been heard,” he said.
Mr Hellyer was also critical of previous attempts by Conservative MPs to address veterans’ concerns, naming Mark Francois, David Davis and Johnny Mercer as politicians who fell short despite their intentions.
Matt Hellyer has heaped praise on Nigel Farage for giving ‘respect back to veterans’ with Veterans for Reform
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GB NEWS
He said: “Conservatives, Mark Francois, David Davis and Johnny Mercer tried their best, but their best just wasn’t good enough.
“And now we must take that sort of mantle now and move it to a different space.”
The former soldier took particular aim at Government spending priorities, insisting that funds currently allocated to accommodating illegal migrants in hotels and military bases should be redirected towards those who served.
“Housing illegal migrants over veterans shouldn’t be allowed, and we’re about to change that,” Mr Hellyer declared.
The ex-SAS officer was unveiled as Reform’s veterans chief today by Nigel Farage
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REFORM UK
Mr Hellyer spoke passionately about restoring the standing of former service personnel within British society, arguing that respect for veterans has diminished over recent years.
“It really is putting the respect back into our veterans, and I think we’ve lost it,” he said. “We’ve lost it in this country and we need to bring that camaraderie back, we need to bring veterans back.”
The Veterans for Reform president stressed that his motivations were not electoral, but rather focused on genuine welfare for those who sacrificed for their nation.
“It’s not about the votes,” Mr Hellyer explained. “It’s about looking after veterans, something that’s gone amiss in the past few years.”
He summarised his philosophy simply: “Veterans served this country, and it’s about time this country served our veterans.”
Mr Hellyer told GB News he could ‘cry with pride’
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GB NEWS
Mr Hellyer drew comparisons with the United States, where he witnessed a markedly different attitude towards those who have served in uniform.
Recounting a trip through Houston airport with fellow veterans en route to Belize, he described seeing a sign thanking military personnel as “heartwarming”.
“When we go to events in America, they say, can all the veterans stand up, all NATO veterans, not just us veterans, we stand up and they give those veterans a round of applause,” he said. “And you know what? It breaks my heart, it makes me want to cry with pride.”
“We want to bring the veterans back into the community and just make it worthwhile, make them the part of the community they used to be when I was a child, and the reason why I joined the military,” he said.