Labour’s plan to support Armed Forces personnel with the cost of travelling home this Christmas is being welcomed in West Cumbria, an area with a long and proud tradition of service to the nation.
Under the announcement, part of Labour’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, 35,000 service personnel will be eligible for help with the cost of a return journey home over the festive period for the first time.
The support will benefit junior service personnel in the early years of their careers – those most likely to be posted far from home and least likely to qualify for existing travel support – helping them spend precious time with family and loved ones at Christmas.
West Cumbria has a deep-rooted connection to the Armed Forces, reflected not just in those currently serving, but in the strength of local cadet units, veterans’ organisations, and community groups in towns and villages across our area. From Remembrance services to cadet parades and volunteer-led support networks, that tradition of service continues to be passed on to the next generation.
Josh MacAlister MP said:
“West Cumbria is rightly proud of its history of service. You see it in our cadets, who give their time and energy week in, week out, and in our veterans, who continue to serve their communities long after they’ve taken off the uniform.
“Labour promised to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, and this is part of delivering on that promise. Time with family matters, especially for young service personnel who make real sacrifices early in their careers. Helping them get home at Christmas is the right thing to do.”
The Christmas travel support builds on wider action from Labour to put Forces First, including the biggest military pay rise in two decades and a landmark £9 billion plan to renew Armed Forces housing, with thousands of homes across the country set to be improved and brought back into public ownership.
Josh MacAlister MP added:
“Backing our Armed Forces isn’t just about words. It’s about recognising the sacrifices made by service personnel and their families, and making sure our actions match our respect. In West Cumbria, that understanding runs deep – and it’s why this support will be so warmly felt across our communities.”
Josh MacAlister MP 