Last week’s VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations were particularly poignant because they marked one of the last major such landmarks where we retained a living link to those who served in World War Two, helping to secure the freedom we enjoy today. Given my role as Shadow Defence Secretary, inevitably VE Day week took on both a local and national flavour.
Driving around South Suffolk, it was satisfying to see so many houses bedecked with bunting to honour the greatest generation, and I know there were community events across the constituency. On the matter of bunting, I also received a very moving email from a constituent, reminding me that the war didn’t end in May 1945; there were still weeks ahead of bitter fighting in the Asia-Pacific theatre, and as their father at the time was deployed in Burma, there were no decorations on the Westminster bank in Sudbury for VE Day. That would happen in August, with VJ Day.
In the other Westminster, we held a very moving debate where I provided the wind up speech for HM Opposition – my chance to pay tribute to those who made such extraordinary sacrifices. A particular highlight last week was my first visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, for tea with some very special veterans, the Chelsea Pensioners. On the 80th anniversary itself, I had the privilege to attend the service at Westminster Abbey. We do ‘pomp’ well in this country – and rightly so, when you consider the price we paid for that victory.
Of course, there have been many other conflicts since World War Two, and in the Commons debate there was much focus on today’s struggles in Ukraine. As I said in my speech, for those of us who sit in Parliament and Government, to remember is not enough; we have to learn the lessons and ensure they are never forgotten.
For me, the number one lesson from eighty years ago is to never take defence for granted, and always stand up to aggressors. So I am very proud of how we have stood by Ukraine, but this was not only the right thing to do, the alternative – a successful Russian invasion – could have threatened our NATO allies and even this country. So we must never take freedom and peace for granted.
In terms of British military deployments, one of the largest since the second world war was not a conflict but a peacekeeping mission – Operation Banner, in Northern Ireland. Whenever I meet veterans, from the Chelsea Pensioners to local veterans in South Suffolk, they raise their profound concern at the way those who served in Northern Ireland are still being harassed by the courts decades after the soldiers in question came home.
Nobody wants to go back to the ‘troubles’, and that’s why we had a peace process. But it seems that only one side remains under threat of investigation – and that’s why I’m strongly opposed to the Government’s plans to repeal ‘legacy’ legislation, threatening to reopen lots of investigations into our veterans. There is a nationwide petition to this effect which you can find at: www.jamescartlidge.com/NI-petition.
Back in the constituency, we have some exciting times ahead: the Hadleigh Show, this Saturday, is very much a key date in the Cartlidge calendar. To me, it’s the perfect celebration of our rural way of life, with a lot of fun for all the family. But these have been tough times for farmers - the weather has not been kind, politically or meteorologically, and they need our support more than ever.
One of the major issues for local farmers recently was the recent sudden, no-notice withdrawal of SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) funding. After the original announcement, I held an emergency meeting in Hadleigh Town Hall and it’s fair to say those farmers affected were livid. So I joined with colleagues in urging the Government to reconsider, and this week we had an announcement which offered a glimmer of hope for some, with the scheme reopening to applicants who had started an application within two months of March 11th this year.
I hope that helps some of my local farmers, because - in what is officially Mental Health Awareness Week – I’ve heard worrying anecdotal evidence that some in the farming community are really struggling with the threat of the Family Farm Tax. Just as we must support those who have defended our national security in the past and present, it is also vital that we back those who deliver our food security.
Published in the Suffolk Free Press.
