Good morning,  John

This Sunday, in towns and villages across our United Kingdom, communities will gather to remember the service and sacrifice of those who defended our freedoms. 

Remembrance Sunday is a poignant reminder that our way of life and our democracy have been secured by the brave and selfless actions of so many. 

Fathers, sons, wives, and daughters gave their lives so that we might live freely. Here in Northern Ireland, we pay special tribute to those who served in Operation Banner, helping to protect our communities and defeat the evils of terrorism.

As Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, for the first time, I will join His Majesty King Charles III, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and other political leaders at the Cenotaph in London. 

As I lay that wreath, I will do so in utter humility and remembrance that our freedom has been purchased at a great price.  That moment belongs to those who gave their all and those who gave their loved ones. 

Remembrance holds a deep place in our hearts, not least because we remember the fearless sacrifice of the 36th (Ulster) Division and the 16th (Irish) Division at the Somme and in Flanders. Between 27,000 and 35,000 men from this island lost their lives in the First World War alone—men of all faiths and none, who fought and fell together, shoulder to shoulder. 

So too did those who served in the Second World War and in later conflicts, such as Korea, the Falklands, the Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It is only right that we stand together in solemn remembrance of the price they paid on behalf of all of us.

Many from Northern Ireland continue to serve in our armed forces across the world, and we give thanks for their dedication to our safety and to upholding democratic values.

As a Party, we are committed to supporting the needs of our armed forces community. DUP MPs were proud to support the Armed Forces Act 2021, fulfilling our pledge to secure legal protection for the Armed Forces Covenant in Northern Ireland as elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

We also called for the appointment of a Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner, a role that has already contributed significantly to the welfare and wellbeing of veterans through the network of Armed Forces Champions now established in many local councils. We look forward to working with the new Commissioner upon appointment.

Our commitment to advancing support for our armed forces community is steadfast. We will continue to explore expanding the Armed Forces Covenant Duty to include areas such as employment, pensions, social care, and criminal justice. Additionally, we will advocate for a UK-wide memorandum of understanding on access to public services, as well as dedicated support for service children with special educational needs. We will also urge the Government to exclude War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments from being counted as income in benefits and pensions assessments.

There is still much to do to better honour the service and sacrifice of our armed forces community. But this weekend, let us take time to remember, to express our gratitude, and to pray for those who continue to bear the physical and emotional scars of battle and loss, and serve today.

Lest we forget.

Gavin Robinson MP
DUP Leader