Rayner: I will do ‘everything within my power’ to help nuclear test veterans

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Angela Rayner has promised to do “everything within my power” to help nuclear test veterans access their medical records. Speaking at a Labour Party Conference fringe event for test veterans, Ms Rayner said: “I can’t go on without saying honestly that I will look in your eyes and do everything I can to make sure we give you what you want.” John Morris, an 86-year-old who was sent to Christmas Island during his national service in the 1960s, told the same event he wanted four things from a future Labour government. I will fight to the bitter end until we get justice for every veteran and the people overseas John Morris, nuclear test veteran These included a full inquiry into “blatant disregard for the duty of care” by the Ministry of Defence; the provision of “true medical records” for all nuclear test veterans; compensation for those affected; and the passing of a “Hillsborough law” to provide legal aid funding for victims of disasters or state-related deaths. “It remains the case that no information is withheld from veterans and any medical records taken either before, during or after participation in the UK nuclear weapon tests are held in individual military medical records in the Government’s archives, which can be accessed on request.” The Atomic Weapons Establishment holds historic technical and scientific documentation about the UK’s nuclear testing programme in its archives, and Government sources say these archives have been searched on numerous occasions and do not contain the medical records of service personnel.