This is Gloucestershire --WAR veterans with mental health issues must not be abandoned, Labour leader Ed Miliband said in Gloucester yesterday.
Mr Miliband's pledge to protect veterans was made at Gloucester Guildhall just 24 hours before Armed Forces Day commemorations were to begin in the city.
He heard the plight of one man who fought in Iraq, but was left on the road to ruin by untreated mental health issues. He is now in prison.
His sister Tanya Palmer said: "As a nurse myself it was disappointing that he did not get the care he needed.
"I'm concerned that with the recession the help is all but gone.
"My brother has become an unfortunate victim."
Mr Miliband said: "The armed forces' immeasurable courage keeps our nation safe. It is right we protect them just as they protect us.
"We must ensure all those who have served have access to the special healthcare they need and deserve.
"There is a significant minority who suffer from mental health problems on leaving the forces. Given the sacrifices they make in our name it is essential we give a guarantee that their health will be protected."
The Labour leader vowed that he would be returning to Gloucester "several times in the coming months" as he bolsters Sophy Gardner's campaign to win back the city's parliamentary seat for his party. Mr Miliband said his priority for a place like Gloucester was to get young people back into jobs.
He said: "It is definitely important that places like Gloucester are not overlooked. There are huge social challenges here.
"We want to tax bankers' bonuses and use the money to pay wages for 25 hours a week if a company provides the training and let's get young people back to work.
"We also need to invest in housing, transport and schools. It makes sense to invest in our future.
"We need to give councils more control over our high streets so that they can say 'no, actually, we don't want another betting shop here'." Reported by This is 13 hours ago.