Russell supports military veterans

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 16th May 2009

Colchester MP Bob Russell headed a protest march down Whitehall with around 350 members of the Armed Forces Pension Group where a wreath was laid at The Cenotaph. They came from across Britain and included several from Colchester.

Mr Russell had earlier addressed a rally, near the Ministry of Defence, in support of calls for pensions to be paid to military veterans who currently are denied them because it is said that their length of service was insufficient. He told them that, following the success with the Gurkha campaign in which he played a leading role in Parliament, the Government should pay pensions to military veterans who currently do not receive them.

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell was also an invited guest at a service at Westminster Abbey to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of Combat Stress, founded after the First World War to assist those psychologically affected by the trauma of war. The guest of honour was the Prince of Wales.

Mr Russell is a Parliamentary Advisor to The Royal British Legion. He is a member of his Party's Defence team.