Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace last night joined a growing chorus of backing for The Mail on Sunday’s Passports for Heroes campaign.
Mr Wallace gave his ‘whole-hearted support’ to giving free passports to Armed Forces veterans aged 75 and over and called on Rishi Sunak to implement the plan if the Tories are re-elected on July 4, saying our ‘wonderful veterans truly deserve this’.
Mr Wallace said: ‘The incredibly moving and emotional events to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day are a powerful reminder of just how much we owe as a nation to the men and women who served in our Armed Forces.’
Our campaign involves extending a free-passports scheme introduced in 2004 for Second World War veterans to those involved in later conflicts.
Last night, ex-servicemen who would qualify from the extension joined TV presenter and author Richard Osman, and actress Dame Sian Phillips, to voice support.
In just one of many veterans’ responses, Anthony Knight – an 86-year-old former senior aircraftsman in the RAF who served in Cyprus from 1958 to 1960 – said it would be a ‘nice gesture’ in recognition of his service.
The pensioner, who lives in Nottinghamshire with partner Jean, said he has made ‘two nostalgic trips’ to Cyprus and wouldn’t rule out returning – except that his passport needed renewing.
Mr Knight, who recalled how ‘we could have been shot any day’ in the Cyprus Emergency, said: ‘It’s not that I’m badly off. It would just be a nice gesture from the Government in recognition for what I did.’
Also backing our campaign is Chelsea Pensioner Steve Lovelock, 81, who served in Cyprus and Malaya. He said he had hoped to visit Normandy for the D-Day commemorations but his passport had expired earlier in the year. Renewing a passport can cost up to £100.
Yesterday, another veteran, who served for 14 years in the RAF in Cyprus and Aden, spoke of how he had long deferred a trip to visit his brother in Germany partly due to the cost of renewing his passport.
The father of four and grandfather of six, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I’ve hesitated because of the cost – times aren’t what they were financially.’
Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club books, has also backed the campaign. Mr Osman – also the creator and former presenter of BBC quiz show Pointless – said: ‘This is such a fitting way for us to say thank you to each new generation of military veterans.’
Award-winning actress Dame Sian said extending the free passports scheme would enable a ‘grateful’ nation ‘to show its thanks to those who have served’.
Historian Lord Roberts, author of an acclaimed biography of Sir Winston Churchill, said: ‘This is an excellent way to thank those to whom we owe so much.’
Fellow best-selling author Lord Dobbs added: ‘We should do this to honour them, and what they did for us. Let them travel in peace and with our gratitude.’
Some of Britain’s leading artists and entertainers have also added their weight to the campaign.
Oscar-winning lyricist Sir Tim Rice is among those who are backing Britain’s veterans.
Call The Midwife star Jenny Agutter said: ‘I really want to support this campaign. Clearly these soldiers need to be recognised for what they have done for our country.’
Gyles Brandreth, author and broadcaster, said: ‘This is a good will gesture and a way of saying thank you to veterans – it will also contribute to their long-term mental health and quality of life. Sign me up!’
Julian Fellowes, Oscar-winning dramatist and Downton Abbey creator, said: ‘It seems the least we can do for people who have risked their lives for our country’s good.’
Nicholas Witchell, former BBC royal correspondent, said: ‘They did their bit, the UK should do its bit: this is a splendid way of showing our support for our veterans.’
Jeffrey Archer, best-selling author, said: ‘No more than common sense that we should support those who gave us our freedom and upheld our democracy.’
Dame Janet Suzman, actress, said: ‘This is a wonderful idea – I am all for treating people who deserve our thanks with respect.’