Starmer fails to meet nuclear test veterans, Defence Secretary to investigate
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not meet with nuclear test veterans as promised; the Defence Secretary said he would look into the matter.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has failed to meet with nuclear test veterans as promised, prompting the new Defence Secretary to say he will investigate the matter.
Starmer pledged to meet the veterans by the end of 2025, but that deadline passed without a meeting. In December, the Prime Minister wrote to one veteran saying his team would schedule a meeting with him and other campaigners early in the new year. That meeting has not taken place.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, who took up the role only a few weeks ago, said he is looking carefully at the case presented by the veterans. He acknowledged the "extraordinary sacrifices" made by those who served in nuclear tests and said he wants to "do right by them." Jarvis confirmed he will discuss the matter with the Prime Minister.
The delay has drawn criticism from campaigners and from Newsnight, which has been following the issue. One veteran said the broken promise was "not good enough." Jarvis defended the delay, citing the demands of his new role, including the defence investment plan and operational activity, but insisted he takes the concerns seriously.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC Two |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister Starmer promised to meet nuclear test veterans but has not yet done so. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel focused on the broken promise by the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary's response. It highlighted the timeline of the pledge and the veterans' frustration, using direct questioning of Dan Jarvis to press for action. The tone was critical of the delay but gave Jarvis space to explain his position.
- “Last October and Sakeer Starmer promised to meet nuclear test veterans Hopefully by the end of the year by the end of 2025. This hasn't happened”
- “I know the Prime Minister's only got a few weeks left, but you know, would you be able to remind him?”
- “I will speak to the Prime Minister about it”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.