Babergh's Armed Forces Champion Derek Davis has backed the Royal British Legion's manifesto ahead of the 2024 General election.

Councillor Davis, who is the Ganges ward member and Babergh district council cabinet member for the economy and regeneration is keen councils do not just pay lip service to Armed Forces Covenant they are signed up to put offer tangible support to all serving service personnel, veterans and their families.

The manifesto has listed five main priorities, listed below, supported by councillor Davis, a former Royal Navy leading weapons mechanic, who trained at HMS Ganges and served on HMS Falmouth, HMS Bulwark and HMS Minerva and shore bases where he boxed for the navy, and ran field gun for Portsmouth.

"It is important that whichever government comes to power, that it takes notice of they five key points, and we as councillors do our best to make it happen, irrespective of party politics," said Cllr Davis, an Independent.

"Armed Forces personnel, past and present, along with their families, do not necessarily want to be given special treatment but nor should they ever be disadvantaged due to their service or payments made for that service."

The five priorities listed within the manifesto are:

Keep the Covenant promise:

Strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant Duty to include UK and devolved governments and cover all policy matters.

Ask the Question:


Ensure all public bodies ask individuals whether they or an immediate family member has served in HM Armed Forces, this will help them to better understand needs and provide appropriate support.

Credit their Service:

Ensure that military compensation is never treated as an income source by means tests for welfare benefits.

Improve access to services for families:

Provide consistent access to public services for Armed Forces families, and increase Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) support funding for service children.

Stop the Service Charge:


Remove barriers for families of non-UK service personnel to stay in the UK, waiving fees for Indefinite Leave to Remain and the Minimum Income Requirement.

Find the full Royal British Legion manifesto here: Supporting Those Who Serve Us