‘There’s a view ‘out there’ that because Fijian veteran Isimeli ‘Bale’ Baleiwai has been given permission to stay in the UK, all is well for Foreign and Commonwealth veterans. Notwithstanding ‘Bale’s decision to send back his medals in disgust – which generated a flurry of renewed media interest – the issue has pretty much dropped off the radar.
Not for VA however. We are still getting around three or four new contacts each week from F&C veterans or family members. We are also getting increasing numbers of calls from serving soldiers.
In terms of breaking news this reality has little going for it. It’s yesterday’s story. Redundancies, deployments and drawdown from Afghanistan have well and truly kicked it into the long grass. Meanwhile we continue to pay for school meals, buy clothes, see that rents are paid and ex-service families have roofs over their heads.
