Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has hailed a huge leap forward in the campaign to secure a medal for the Arctic Convoy veterans.
The Military Medal Review, led by Sir John Holmes, has today published an interim report recommending rapid action on the Arctic Convoy case. The Prime Minister has now called on Sir John Holmes to bring forward concrete plans to implement the proposals in the Autumn.
Caroline, who has campaigned for almost a decade for a medal to be granted to the Arctic Convoy veterans, welcomed the report. She said:
"I am delighted that this report recognises the need for rapid action to address the huge injustice suffered by the Arctic Convoy veterans. It is essential that the rules regarding the awarding of medals are sufficiently flexible to allow us to honour those brave veterans who were clearly overlooked in the past."
The report has called for the formation of a sub-committee to the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee), made up from military experts from outside the Civil Service and MOD. It recommends that this reconstituted committee deal with the Arctic Convoy's case as a matter of urgency.
In a Written Ministerial Statement today, the Prime Minister praised the report for bringing "greater flexibility and transparency" to the awarding of medals, and called on Sir John Holmes to complete the second stage of the review by the Autumn.
The full text of Sir John Holmes' interim Military Medal Review can be found here.