A Labour MP’s husband has been accused of ‘stolen valour’ after wearing an Iraq war badge and reportedly telling coworkers he served in the commandos.
Ex-Wolverhampton mayor and former firefighter Cllr Greg Brackenridge, 53, boasted to his voters that he had a career serving in the Marines.
Despite allegedly telling his coworkers that he served for a ‘number of years’ in 45 Commando amphibious commando unit, he failed to complete the training.
Cllr Brackenridge – who is also the Chair of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority – has been previously pictured wearing a badge for veterans of the Iraq War from 1990 to 1991 and a Royal Marines Corps tie.
His wife Sureena won the Wolverhampton North East seat for Labour in July, and her son Ciaran is also a councillor.
Cllr Brackenbridge said he asked the Ministry of Defence to investigate alleged illegal access of his personal military record as he faced questions about the legitimacy of his own service.
Cllr Brackenridge told BirminghamLive he stood by his right to use the term ‘former Royal Marine’.
In 2021, he also claimed: ‘I served as a Royal Marine myself when I left school.
‘I worked with members of the Sikh community in the armed forces and people from all around the world – the Nepalese and the Gurkhas.’
The Gorkhali are soldiers from Nepal who are recruited into the British Army.
His bio on the Wolverhampton Labour Group, which has since been taken down, previously read: ‘It has been my honour to serve the people of Wednesfied over many years as your Councillor and in my previous professional careers firstly with the Royal Marines and as a local firefighter with the West Midlands Service.’
He said his career in the military was cut short for personal reasons.
He told BirminghamLive: ‘This was devastating, as I loved what I was doing, as any young lad would. I find it incredible anyone would attack people who join the military and want to serve their country. I have served as a firefighter, now retired, and councillor to continue to serve my community.
‘What’s concerning is the apparent attempts to illegally access my service records with the MoD – a clear breach of GDPR. This is deeply troubling.
‘I am formally requesting the MoD investigates these matters, and I’m in discussions with lawyers about the next steps.’
The Sun reported that he left before finishing the 32-week training course in 1988, only achieving the rank of recruit and without earning his Green Beret.
A source told the newspaper: ‘Until you pass out, you’re still a recruit, you’re not really a Royal Marine.’
Cllr Brackenridge recently said he has been the target of threatening messages following rumours online about his military service, which he believed are intended to ‘intimidate’ him into stepping down.
Posts on Facebook read: ‘This chap talks of dignity and respect whilst misleading everyone by suggesting he served as a Royal Marine. He didn’t.’
‘Never got out of training. Disgusting stolen valour. Has been seen wearing Gulf War pins and a RM tie. Not fit to tie the laces. Had he any moral fibre, he’d resign.’
Wolverhampton Council said: ‘Where any allegations are made against a councillor, they will be dealt with through the council’s Code of Conduct process.’
The revelation came shortly after an authority investigation led to the Fire Service’s interim chief executive Oliver Lee being suspended, who last night sensationally quit his role.
He walked away after a month of power struggles and claims, saying he has resigned to ‘do what is right’ and slammed Cllr Brackenbridge as allegedly being ‘untruthful’.
Lee was the Commanding Officer of 45 Commando Group from 2009 to 2012, where the Cllr claimed he served.
His future was to be discussed at a meeting of the Fire Authority on Monday.
Cpl Lee is reportedly also the subject of a Section 5 legal notice alleging he overstepped his powers on at least two occasions, including when suspending his finance director over the accuracy of financial predictions.
Posting on his LinkedIn profile, he said last night: ‘I have spent the last few days fighting hard for the soul of West Midlands Fire Service, an organisation I adore.
‘I have been threatened repeatedly, mainly to stay quiet on vital subjects in the public interest. I was threatened with an injunction from the High Court today.
‘I will not be gagged. Nor will I destroy my family with vast legal bills. I have therefore resigned in order to do what is right.
‘West Midlands Fire Service will now sadly continue as was when I inherited it: scared, cowed and not able to be itself. Viewing its leaders as selfish.
‘The chair of the Fire Authority, Greg Brackenridge, is untruthful. He often referred to his service in 45 Commando. I took this at face value, given his standing and the fact that he claimed his 45 service was 15 years before mine.’
Prior to his suspension, Cpl Lee, who is a decorated former Royal Marine Colonel, launched an unprecedented attack at those running the Fire Authority and said it was ‘lacking in courage, transparency, care and honesty’ on his LinkedIn.
Lee served 18 years in the Royal Marines, where he attained the rank of full Colonel at just 37, making him the youngest since the Second World War.
Recognised for his leadership in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, he was awarded both the MBE and OBE.
He resigned his commission over what he saw as the denial of justice to former Royal Marine Alexander Blackman by the military after he was imprisoned for killing a Taliban fighter.
Sgt Blackman released from prison in 2017 after Daily Mail readers helped to overturn his conviction for murdering a wounded Afghan insurgent.
Lee was appointed to the fire authority after his predecessor Wayne Brown was found dead in Birmingham, after it emerged he was being investigated for allegedly lying about having a masters degree and having played for Charlton Athletic when applying for his £180,000-a-year job.
has approached Cllr and Mrs Brackenridge for comment.