Torsten thanks veterans on VE Day anniversary
Eighty-years since Victory in Europe, Torsten reflected on the annivesary, the imapct of the Second World War on Swansea, and the sacrifices made by veterans past and present in the South Wales Evening Post.
This week we mark Victory in Europe – the moment Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies, and the values of freedom, tolerance, and democracy won out.
VE Day brought peace after a war that left many scars, not least here in Swansea. Our city was a victim of its own success – Hitler identified Swansea port as amongst the 10 most important in the UK and targeted the city for attack. Amid dozens of bombing raids, 1941’s devastating Three Nights Blitz claimed 230 lives and left the city centre in ruins.
Exactly 80 years on, this anniversary is especially poignant as one of the last opportunities to honour living veterans of the Second World War. They, along with so many of their generation, made sacrifices that are frankly unimaginable to those of us who have grown up in far more stable times.
As a nation, we owe a debt to those who have served our country – in recent conflicts as well as historic. But too often veterans have been sadly let down. The number forced to rely on Universal Credit rose by 65 per cent between 2022 and 2024, to a shocking 65,000.
Labour is taking action to renew our nation’s contract with those who have served our country. The UK Government has just announced a new veteran support system called VALOUR, which will give veterans across the UK easier access to essential support and care.
How will it work? Backed by £50 million, VALOUR will create a new network of support centres with Regional Field Officers connecting services together, and driving support for veterans across housing, employment, health and welfare. This is a vital step forward for more than 3,000 veterans living in Swansea West.
In Swansea, we’ve long known that remembering the past means doing justice to the present. And we’ve always led by example – after the First World War, we dedicated some of the best views of our city to veterans, building more than 400 Homes for Heroes in Townhill.
Now, I’m proud that the UK Labour Government is carrying that tradition forward with policies that match our values. Supporting our veterans isn’t just about remembering history, it’s about doing the right thing in the here and now by standing by those who stood up for us.
So, as we celebrate the anniversary of VE day, let’s remember those who fought and never forget what they fought for. Defending democracy is a task our veterans and Britain took on. It’s a cause all of us must keep fighting for.