Lib Dem hopeful backs national defence medal campaign

2.35.00pm GMT Fri 19th Feb 2010

The national defence medal would replace the current veterans badge

All armed forces veterans should be awarded a national defence medal, to recognise their armed forces service, says Stuart Bonar, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Plymouth Moor View.

The parliamentary hopeful is backing the national campaign for a new medal to be awarded to all those who have served in the armed forces. Australia already awards the Australian Defence Medal to its veterans.

The campaign for the medal is backed by 169 Members of Parliament, from across the political spectrum, who signed a House of Commons motion calling for it. The signatories include all of Devon's Lib Dem MPs.

Commenting, Lib Dem prospective MP Stuart Bonar said, "I am proud to back this campaign. Plymouth is my home city, and it is also home to a great many serving and former armed forces personnel.

"Today, there are British servicemen and women in harm's way on foreign battlefields. They didn't ask to be sent there, but they went. Just like them, all our former service personnel were on standby at all times to be sent overseas to fight on our behalf.

"We need to ensure that all our veterans are honoured for the contribution they made in defence of our country and our way of life."

Stuart comes from a military family. His father was in the Royal Marines. His brother was in the Army Air Corps. His brother-in-law is in the Royal Engineers, and has served in Afghanistan, and his niece serves in the Royal Military Police, and served in Iraq.