Raising Voices of Women Veterans in Parliament

Emma Foody, Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Cramlington and Killingworth, has raised the need for the voices of women veterans to be included in the Veterans Strategy in Defence Questions in the House of Commons.

Ms Foody met with North East-based women veterans charity, Salute Her, during the VE Day celebrations earlier this month. Salute Her provide bespoke services to women veterans, supporting them with the tools they need to re-enter the civilian world and live successful meaningful lives.

In Parliament, Ms Foody spoke of the need of ensuring that women veterans’ voices were part of the government’s Veterans Strategy. Speaking in the Commons she said:

“Salute Her are a veteran charity in the North East who do incredible work supporting women veterans who obviously have very specific needs in terms of accessing the support they need. What reassurance can the Minister give that in the upcoming Veterans Strategy women’s voices and needs will be heard and catered for?”

In response, the Secretary of State for Defence, John Healy, commented “We are developing the Veterans Strategy in close consultation, with the voices of veterans and the organisations that represent them at the heart of that process, so I can give her that reassurance, and I am glad that she is looking forward to its publication”.

Following the exchange, Ms Foody added “Salute Her do fantastic work in the North East supporting women veterans and the specific support women veterans may need. As the government comes forward with the Veterans Strategy, it is crucial that all voices and needs are heard and address, including women veterans, and I will continue to work to ensure that is the case”.