Painting highlights veterans’ challenges

John Healey said: “I’d like to thank Richard and Gareth from The Daparian Foundation for the copy “The Thousand Yard Stare”. It’ll take pride and place on the wall of my office.

A painting presented to John Healey by a Rotherham based veterans group aims to highlight the struggles of military veterans across the country.

A print copy of “The Thousand Yard Stare” was given to John by The Daparian Foundation, a veteran and emergency services staff PTSD research organisation which was set up to help improve the lives of those living with trauma.

The group were given the rights to the image by the artist, Steve Stonestreet, and auctioned the original painting to help UK veterans with PTSD through targeted support.

“The painting is thought provoking and helps you to understand the challenges faced by veterans suffering with PTSD on a daily basis.

“The group do some great work supporting veterans and carry out important research to help those experiencing trauma.”

It comes as figures show veterans’ homelessness rose by 14% in the year 2022-23 compared to the previous year.

Labour’s analysis of the latest quarterly homelessness statistics has found there are around 500 veterans’ households being made newly homeless every three months – up to 180 households a month.

Data shows that 2,110 households containing someone who served in the Armed Forces were assessed as homeless, up from 1,850 in the previous year.

 John Healey said: “Labour is deeply proud of our Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and their families for the enormous contribution they make to our country. But they are being let down by this Government.

“Ministers have created a postcode lottery for veterans, halved employment support and more veterans are homelessness this year than last year.

“In Government, Labour will fully incorporate the Armed Forces Covenant into law, fulfilling the moral contract our society makes with those who serve and make sure that former personnel have easy access to high quality, affordable homes fit for our heroes.”

John calls for Government to end its ‘bad deal for steel’

John Healey has called on the Government to end its ‘bad deal for steel’.

It’s after the Government and Tata steel announced plans for Port Talbot steelworks in South Wales which would cut 2,800 jobs and leave the UK unable to produce primary steel.

John Healey said: “I know that many people across Rotherham and South Yorkshire will relate to the concerns of another proud steel community in South Wales following recent announcements around Port Talbot steelworks.

“Whilst there is no immediate threat to jobs in our area, the wider issue of the UK Government’s lack of a coherent industrial strategy – and its lack of support for our steel industry – is a national concern.

“The deal struck between Tata and the UK Government would be hugely damaging for our entire steel sector and would undermine the UK’s sovereignty and security with the degradation of our primary steelmaking capacity.

“Labour is clear that we will not accept this failed plan for decarbonisation on the cheap, and we urge ministers to look again at the credible multi-union alternative. We need our steel – that is why a Labour government will invest £3billion into securing the industry’s long-term future.”

Tata formally responded to reject the Multi-Union Plan that Community and GMB unions presented to the company and announced a £1.25 billion investment in Electric Arc Furnace technology in Port Talbot, backed by the Government.

In addition to the threat to jobs and steel communities, the proposal would slash the UK’s steelmaking capacity by nearly 1 megatonne, make the country highly reliant on a UK scrap supply chain that does not yet exist, and without any blast furnaces, end the UK’s ability to make virgin/primary steel leaving the industry highly reliant on imports.