Cameron wants wartime mentality
By politics.co.uk staff
David Cameron has called on the British people to pay the same respects to service personnel as was seen during the world wars of the 20th century.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, the prime minister argued it was a “social responsibility” as well as a government responsibility to support Britain’s armed forces.
He argued that in the First World War “those at home didn’t just sing ‘keep the home fires burning’, they practised it”.
In the Second World War, he added, familiarity with those in uniform helped place the military at the centre of national consciousness.
“I believe as a country at war we should see the same appreciation today, with the military front and centre of our national life once again,” Mr Cameron argued.
“There is huge respect for the Armed Forces community out there, and I want that expressed more loudly and more proudly.
“As someone once said, silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone – so next Saturday [Armed Forces Day] I hope we see an explosion of red, white and blue all over the country.”
Mr Cameron, who recently visited Afghanistan where British troops are currently fighting the Taliban, is reportedly considering recommending a new protocol of contact between GPs and military veterans to assess possible post-traumatic mental health issues.
