MoD accused of meddling in review of nuke veterans
DEFENCE Secretary Gavin Williamson has been urged to intervene after his officials were accused of “manipulating” a medal review he ordered into the case of Britain’s nuclear test veterans.
Campaigners say they are being given the run around by MoD officials about who will look at their case to recognise the men who were used in radiation experiments during the Cold War. The men have suffered cancers, rare illnesses and birth defects in their children. Two previous committees named as looking at the review were not viable and this week a third body was named, the Queen’s main medals’ committee. About 22,000 people took part in the tests in the 50s – of whom only 1,500 are still alive. Alan Owen, of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association, said: “We need an answer, sooner rather than later.”