Matt Western: Storms, Covid fraud and Minister for the Armed Forces

By Matt Western MP 29th Jan 2025

It has been a very windy week or so with Storm Eowyn and Storm Herminia bringing strong winds and rain to much of the country.

I'm grateful we seem to have missed much of the worst of the storm locally, particularly after a difficult few days in December with Storm Darragh and the impact it had on our towns and villages.  

Turning to parliament, it has been another busy month with some positive moves by the government which I have been proud to support.  

To begin with, under new measures introduced to parliament earlier this month, we have strengthened the powers to get money back from those who used the pandemic for their own personal gain.   

Under the last government, we saw billions of taxpayers' money lost to covid fraud. We said we would get it back and we're getting on with it.    

The new Government will give a new Covid fraud squad the powers to raid the properties of Covid fraudsters and recover taxpayers' money from their bank accounts.

This is taxpayers' money, money that belongs in our public services, not in the hands of those who took a moment of deep pain for our country to get rich (or richer) quick.  

We cannot let them get away with it and it is very welcome that this government is getting on with the job of getting this money back.  

In other parliamentary news, I was proud to vote for the country's first ever independent Armed Forces Commissioner last week. 

Our armed forces personnel put their lives at risk to keep us safe and this is part of the Government's pledge to renew the nation's contract with those who bravely serve.   

The commissioner will be able to hear directly from service personnel and their families about concerns they may have with their service, investigate personal concerns and launch investigations.  

It was welcome to hear from the Minister for the Armed Forces that the intention is for the commissioner to act as an independent champion for the Armed Forces and hold this Government and future governments to account. 

We have seen some shocking cases of poor accommodation armed forces personnel, and their families are living in in recent years. It is no surprise that we are facing a crisis in military morale, and a crisis in recruitment.

Under the last Government morale hit a record low, with only four in 10 personnel reporting they are satisfied with service life, the lowest reported level. 

A few years ago, I took part in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme to better understand the challenges our military and personnel face. It was a very useful insight, and I have always done my best to attend the annual Armed Forces Day to express my thanks for all they do.   

The establishment of this commissioner position is a crucial move as we renew the nation's contract with those who bravely serve.   

As always, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any issues or concerns you would like to raise with me. I can be reached at matt.western.mp@parliament.uk or on 01926 882006.   

     

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