On the 7th January 2022, the #lookmeintheeye campaign joined with the #HillsboroughLawNow campaign to call on the UK Government to implement a new law that would introduce a duty of candour on government officials.
A Charter for families bereaved through public tragedy legally binding on all public bodies would be introduced.
A new public advocate to act for families would also be created.
Why is this important to the British nuclear veterans and their families?
Since 1952, the British nuclear veterans and their families have fought for truth and justice in various groups, associations, charities, and now through the #lookmeintheeye campaign.
Successive governments have denied any responsibility for the effects of the testing program, despite many other testing countries introducing medallic recognition and compensation. In 2021, France and the USA awarded their veterans a medal. In 2021, the UK government twice denied applications for medallic recognition and refused to implement any program similar to the US RECA program.
This is despite evidence from Prime Minister's memos, secret documents, unclassified documents, and medical studies carried out across the world. Questions are being raised as to how independent the Advisory Military Sub-Committee actually is.
Successive Prime Ministers have ignored the Campaigners
Many Prime Ministers have promised to overturn this injustice, but when they are in office, the faceless Civil servants at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) always advise them otherwise, they would rather spend millions of taxpayers money fighting the nuclear veterans in expensive lawsuits, taking the case to the highest court in the land.
The MoD has always denied that the men were put in harm.
We have MoD documents saying the men would have their blood tested. We have witnesses who say their blood was taken. Today, the government refuses to show us those records.
In 2009 the MoD admitted that about 10% of the men were probably exposed to radiation - men it had been calling liars for more than half a century. These men are now listed in the Veterans Agency Adjudication Guidance:
These men and their families were lied to since 1952, they were denied pensions, denied access to files, and had to fight the establishment. Many died fighting the establishment they served.
Access to Medical Records is still denied
Veterans and their families are still denied access to their medical records, many have been fighting the establishment for full disclosure of their records. Many medical records have had pages ripped out, and false information. Many do not mention their time at Christmas Island. If they wore dosimeters, the information is not recorded. If they had their blood tested, it is not recorded, if it is, it is not released to the veterans and their families.
We have evidence of falsified medical records, falsified service records, yet the MoD still denies any wrongdoing.
National Archives still restricted
In 2019, the AB & ES national archive records relating to the nuclear testing program were withdrawn from public access. The MoD has taken control of these records and is transporting them for a 'Security Review' to Scotland, where officials will be sorting through the records and re-classifying them.
Our latest FOI request was denied because they did not have staff available, as they were reviewing the documents.
Fighting the Establishment
It is extremely difficult to fight the establishment, they have unrestricted resources, unlimited finances from the public purse. Many campaigners have fought for over 60 years to end this injustice, yet the denial continues. Many are now considered 'Vexatious' by the establishment because they refuse to accept the narrative.
With the introduction of HillsBoroughLaw, the establishment will no longer be in the privileged position, it will be a level playing field and one where the truth will prevail.
Speaking at an event held in the People’s History Museum, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said the scandal of Britain’s nuclear test veterans is “a 70-year cover-up because that’s what it is, one of the biggest injustices that this country has yet to face up to. This is the year we look them in the eye. This is the year that injustice ends.”
Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram stood with the #lookmeintheeye campaign and we stand with them in the #HillsboroughLawNow campaign.
How can the UK still not recognise its veterans?
In December 2021, John Healey MP (Shadow Secretary of Defence) wrote to Ben Wallace MP (Secretay of Defence) asking him why the contrast between the USA and the UK has never been greater.
We have the full support of the Labour party for the #lookmeintheeye campaign, Boris Johnson promised to meet with representatives in November but is yet to arrange that meeting. We continue to fight the establishment.
Conclusion
In this 70-year anniversary year, it is time to end the injustice, and Hillsborough Law will help us and many other families whose lives have been destroyed who have been denied justice by the establishment.
We have lost too many veterans and their family members over many decades who have fought for justice. Anthony Eden, Prime Minister was informed in 1955 about the genetic effects of nuclear radiation and the testing program. His response:
"A pity, but we cannot help it"
This edict has been continued to this day.
We stand together to end this injustice
As part of our #lookmeintheeye campaign, we are hosting a seminar in Manchester (funded by ICAN) entitled 'The 70 year Hurricane - Time to End the Storm'.
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