End the scandal of heroes forced to pay to stay in UK

Defence minister calls on Treasury to foot bill for Commonwealth veterans

WHITEHALL is at war over Commonwealth veterans who are forced to fork out thousands of pounds to remain in Britain.

Defence minister Johnny Mercer says the MoD and the Home Office disagree on who should cover the bill for visas.

Mr Mercer, who is in charge of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, called on the Treasury to step in with the cash. He was backed yesterday by Michael Gove, who is responsible for veterans at Cabinet level.

Speaking on board HMS Westminster in Portsmouth, the Cabinet Office minister blasted his own Government’s policy as ‘ridiculous’. The ministers were visiting the frigate to launch an advisory board comprising prominent ex-service personnel and experts.

Commonwealth citizens serving in the Armed Forces have the right to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK after four years in uniform. But a service leaver with a partner and two children could face a bill of almost £10,000 to obtain a visa, according to the Royal British Legion.

If they cannot afford to pay up they face deportation.

Mr Mercer is seeking a path to citizenship that will save the veterans huge expense.

They also face problems when their salaries are too low for family members to qualify for a visa under strict immigration rules.

Mr Mercer said: ‘ It’s a classic Office for Veterans’ Affairs issue because it has always been fought out between the MoD and the Home Office as to who is going to foot the bill for it.’

Referring to a sailor who had left the Royal Navy, Mr Mercer said: ‘He has just paid £12,500 to stay in this country with his family despite having served 12 years.’

Mr Gove responded: ‘That’s ridic

‘Years of saving everything I had’

ulous, we should be paying. If you served in uniform for 12 years then you’ve done more for this country than any of us can rate or value.’

Another former sailor told the ministers: ‘It took me five years of saving everything I had for me and my family.’

Mr Mercer replied: ‘If we can get the money, we can sort this out. They add so much – Fijians, Jamaicans, Barbadians – yet £12,500 for a young family to settle.

‘Some of the kids were born here, we can’t ask them to leave. We’ve got to sort this out.’

Mr Gove told the sailors: ‘You’ve convinced Johnny and you’ve certainly convinced me that we need to change. We’ll try and make sure we can refund the money.’

Around 10 per cent of the 190 crew of HMS Westminster are from Commonwealth countries.