Local Residents Back Campaign to Honour Military Covenant

5.57.02pm GMT Tue 11th Nov 2008

On Saturday, a day before the Remembrance Service honouring British troops who fought in wars from the First World War to the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tom Brake petitioned residents in the centre of Wallington in support of a nationwide campaign calling for the military covenant to be honoured.

With over a hundred signatures collected in just over an hour, support for the petition was strong.

Tom explained, "This is a campaign everyone backs. We ask our troops to make huge sacrifices. It is only fair that in return we honour the military covenant - this is the understanding between the Armed Forces and the people that in return for giving up certain rights, our Armed Forces will receive the best possible equipment in the field and the right level of medical care and accommodation back home."

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a defence review to establish what level of military commitment the Armed Forces should make and the equipment that will be needed to enable them to make it.

Tom Brake MP will be raising local people's concerns over the military covenant with the Ministry of Defence.