A HAMPSHIRE MP has strongly supported Government plans to compensation LGBT veterans who suffered mistreatment in the armed forces. 

Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, told the House of Commons yesterday that a constituent had shared his story about his experiences as a gay serviceman. 

The Government said it will accept the “intent” of all 49 recommendations from an independent inquiry which looked at the experience of LGBT veterans who served in the armed forces between 1967 and 2000.

Among the recommendations made by senior judge Lord Etherton were that those who suffered mistreatment as a result of their sexuality should be given an “appropriate financial award”.

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His investigation found that some suffered abusive investigations, with others subjected to “conversion therapy, peremptory discharges, and appalling consequences in terms of mental health and wellbeing, homelessness, employment, personal relationships and financial hardship”, according to the report.

Mrs Nokes said: “Last week I met Fighting With Pride and one of my constituents, who I will not name because he hasn't given me permission to do so, raised three points. Firstly the importance of testimonies. He is a grown man who was discharged in the 1980s whose mother had received a letter from his commanding officer outing him as gay. He was still traumatised and crying in my office last week. So it's about making sure the testimonies are heard. 

“It's about having a debate in this place, on the floor of this House, not farmed out to Westminster Hall, can I ask the minister whether he can be sure it happens on the floor of the House.

“Thirdly, it was about financial redress. I really welcome the opportunity, my constituent will now have to feed in how he has been impacted. How he has lived a life alone because he has carried that shame for all these years. 

“So on behalf of my constituent and all the other LGBT servicemen and women who have suffered in that way, can I please put their case on the record that they want the opportunity to feed in their own stories so that financial redress can address the harm they suffered.

“I am delighted the Government has accepted all the recommendations and look forward to them being implemented.”

Defence minister Andrew Murrison told MPs that the Government was still preparing how to administer financial awards, with more details to come in the new year, but said other restorative measures are now being carried out.