Douglas Alexander MP is helping celebrate this year’s Armed Forces Week by thanking our Armed Forces and highlighting the government’s actions to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, who have served, and Forces families.

It has already rewarded their dedication and professionalism with the largest pay rise in over 20 years for our forces last year, and another inflation busting pay rise this year.

The Government is also bringing the military housing estate back into public hands, buying back 36,000 military homes, and investing more than £7 billion on military accommodation this parliament.

It is setting up the VALOUR system to ensure veterans more easily access support on housing, employment, and health services.

And this month it has launched the search for the UK’s first ever Armed Forces Commissioner – an independent champion for serving personnel and families and a direct point of contact to raise issues affecting service life, such as housing, equipment and welfare.

Commenting ahead of Armed Forces Week, Douglas Alexander MP said:

“This Labour Government came into office with a determination to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, who have served, and Forces families.

“Those men and women who risk their lives every day for this country and stand at the heart of our national security. And the families that sacrifice so much support them.

“I’m proud of what our Labour Government has delivered for service personnel in just 11 months. This includes inflation busting pay rises, new investment in military accommodation, setting up the VALOUR scheme to support veterans, and establishing the new Armed Forces Commissioner to champion serving personnel and their families.

“We know that the need to reconnect Britain with serving personnel is more important than ever and we must strengthen links between our Armed Forces community and society.

“In a signal of that change, I’m really proud that the Government is making Armed Forces Day bigger and better by bringing back the National Event for the first time since 2023.”

Find out more about this year’s National Event and others happening across the UK at www.armedforcesday.org.uk.