Statement by TUV East Antrim candidate Ruth Wilson:
“Public support for the Armed Forces across the UK is incredibly high and there is almost universal support for the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant attempts to “redress the disadvantages that the armed forces community faces in comparison to other citizens and to recognise the sacrifices that they have made”.
“It was published in May 2011 and, according to the MoD website, Government, partner charities and the devolved administrations “have been very busy” delivering it. Sadly, one devolved administration, Northern Ireland, has been found lacking with regards to implementing the Covenant. In fact former NIO Minister Mike Penning told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that members of the Stormont Executive failed to even respond to an invitation to discuss how to help veterans and their families.
“Again, the Sinn Fein veto in action!
“TUV strongly supports the extension of the Armed Forces Covenant to Northern Ireland. Due to our flawed form of devolution this has proved impossible to date.
“TUV is the only Unionist party which is serious about making the changes to devolution in Northern Ireland which will make it possible to deliver the same pledges to our armed forces which they can expect in other parts of the United Kingdom.”