All we want is Truth and Justice is a motto which has been used in the Nuclear Community for decades and it is still true today. Successive UK Governments have not provided the truth and have not provided justice.
The recent BBC2 Documentary has again brought attention to the Nuclear Community and has increased our membership, our reach and has ensured that people who knew nothing about the testing program now know a lot more.
Simon Rawles and the team at Hardcash have managed to make a powerful and emotional film and made every possible use of the 75 minutes available to them. LABRATS were hard negotiators and for us to put our full backing behind a production took a lot of discussions, but it was worth it. This documentary followed the Channel 4 documentary and will soon be followed by the launch of Susie Boniface's book 'Exposed'. (which you can pre-order by following this link: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Exposed-The-Secret-History-of-Britains-Nuclear-Experiments-Hardback/p/51698)
BBC Breakfast and lots of other TV and radio programs carried our story. On the 25th of November MP's attended their own private screening in Parliament.
Emma Lewell-Buck MP questioned the Secretary of State for Defence John Healey MP at the Defence Select Committee meeting on the 21st of November. (Watch the discussion below)
The Secretary of State for Defence replied that he is undertaking a 'deep dive' into the records under an internal investigation led by Al Carns MP. (Minister for Veterans and People)
The Secretary of State for Defence also stated that no records are withheld. Yet in the case of the Purse family, they are being withheld. The MoD state that they have the medal records that they asked for but are refusing to release them under Section 41(1)b; yet Mrs Purse is entitled to the information as his widow.
The MoD fought a long battle with the Gledhill family, using the same exemption and lost, costing the taxpayers thousands of pounds. So did the Secretary of State mislead the Defence Select Committee? We have written to the Minister for Veterans and People and asked him for an urgent response. We will update you when we receive an answer.
We are extremely thankful to the Veterans Foundation for funding this free membership.
But what is next? What is happening in December and into 2025?
McCue Jury & Partners continue with the legal action, you can read more in our previous blog: https://www.labrats.international/post/nuclear-test-veterans-demand-justice
Our new Education Video will hopefully be released by the Office for Veteran's Affairs.
The Oral History project will be released for everyone to listen to on the British Museum website. (https://www.ntvhistory.uk/)
A further documentary from Daniel Everitt-Lock will hopefully be released. This is extremely powerful and brings to life a worldwide scandal.
Our new Educational book will be released detailing each British test.
A new Podcast specifically for Descendants will be launched.
New LABRATS Coffin Drape service.
All of these projects are complimented by our annual events:
All Tests Reunion 2025 - https://www.labrats.international/atr
Remembrance Day Parade
NAVAD Day
LABRATS AGM
LABRATS have invested a lot this year with a new telephone system, new educational material, The Order of the Rat and our Christmas lunch to be held on the 10th of December in Carmarthen. We do this because the community is important, it must never be forgotten. We now stand alone as the last organisation supporting the campaign for truth and justice.
We must continue working collaboratively with the Office for Veterans Affairs and we now have regular meeting scheduled each month to discuss the progress on our outstanding items.
If you can, support us by joining as an Associate Member. We have 600+ members now, which increases every day. It is available to any British Nuclear Test Veteran or family member for free until 01/04/2026. You can join by clicking this link https://www.labrats.international/joinus
We still have much to do, records are still locked away, records are still withheld. A brief search of the National Archives shows this:
Exposure to nuclear radiation. MOD compensation scheme - Closed until 1st January 2070
Exposure to nuclear radiation: Christmas Island - Closed until 1st January 2079
These are just 2 examples, there are lots more records locked away. What does the UK Government have to hide?
We are all volunteers, we do this because we want the truth, we want an apology and we want justice. For everyone who has contacted their MP, been interviewed, marched at a remembrance parade, told their story and has been involved in the campaigning so far, we thank you.
LABRATS is a fully inclusive organisation, our helpline is available for anyone who needs anything in the community and is open 10-4 Monday to Friday. Our social media groups are available on Facebook and you can follow us on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Bluesky. Our support and education packages are our main focus whilst supporting the legal action and the Nuked Blood campaign.
We continue to serve the community as per your instructions, we will follow the members guidance as per our AGM.
We will always stand up for our community and we will not apologise for this, we have come so far with the medal award, but now we must go further, it is time to work for that apology, the recognition that the UK Government have lied to the world and continued to do so for 72 years. We need everyone in the world to be aware of the testing programmes and the lasting legacy.
We look forward to seeing some of you in Carmarthen on the 9th and 10th of December. It will be a time to remember and have some fun. It has been an exciting year, lots of hard work has been undertaken by a lot of people to make it a very productive one for the community.
We would also like to thank every MP who is now taking on our cause and to the Metro Mayors whose support has been incredible.
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