Prime Minister candidates both back medal for Britain’s nuclear test vets

The next Prime Minister has backed a medal for Britain’s nuclear test veterans – whoever takes the reins on September 5.

Both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have thrown their weight behind the Mirror’s campaign for justice for the Cold War heroes, who took part in secretive radiation experiments in America, Australia and the South Pacific between 1952 and 1991.

It follows our successful demand for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to become the first British premier to meet the survivors – which he did in June, professing astonishment at their experiences, and agreeing that there was potential evidence of crimes by the state.

The testing programme was the biggest tri-service operation since D-Day. In February a government study proved the men were more likely to die from cancer. Their children also report 10 times the normal rate of birth defects.

After his meeting, Johnson ordered a medal committee take a fresh look at the case for a gong, and asked civil servants to prepare a package of measures. But after he was forced to resign, the work was thrown into doubt.

Now with the support of both contenders for his job, civil servants can press ahead with plans for recognition. Johnny Mercer, the UK’s first cabinet minister for Veterans’ Affairs, is also working with campaigners.

But as with everything else, the two Tories disagree on what to do. Bookies’ favourite Truss promises to look again at delivering war pensions for nuclear veterans, which under the current system sees only 1.6% of their claims approved. Former Chancellor Sunak, meanwhile, wants police to look into whether crimes were committed against British servicemen during the testing programme.

Liz Truss told the Mirror: “Nuclear test veterans have served our country with distinction and it is appropriate we recognise their contribution to Britain’s security. We should recognise their service.

“As Prime Minister, I will carefully consider options – including the applicability of war pensions and medals – to recognise the sacrifice made by those veterans and the long-term health issues that may have arisen as a result of their service.”

A campaign spokesman for Rishi Sunak said: “Rishi supports the campaign for nuclear veterans to be recognised for their service. We are incredibly grateful for our nuclear veterans’ sacrifice which kept Britain safe during the Cold War.

“Whilst the ultimate decision on medals lies with the independent Advisory Military Sub Committee, as Prime Minister Rishi would strongly support these veterans receiving a medal and urges the committee to reconsider. He would also back an investigation into whether the tests represented a criminal offence towards these veterans.”

The campaign is supported by the Common Sense Group of Tory backbenchers, led by Sir John Hayes MP. It also has the backing of the SNP, and the Labour Party. Opposition leader Keir Starmer met veterans a year before Boris, along with shadow defence secretary John Healey, and Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey. Labour’s metro mayors, including Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, have also called for justice and compared the test veterans’ long fight to scandals like Hillsborough, Grenfell, and contaminated blood.

All sides are working together to get justice in time for the Plutonium Jubilee, the 70th anniversary of the first atomic bomb test, this October.

* The Mirror has set up a Facebook group dedicated to the campaign. To join, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/nucleartestveterans