Yes voters made a grievance of the calendar, and still lost narrowly. Their case was that veterans were being short-changed by comparison with other groups, and it was argued with heat.
The most-respected Yes case called it “a massive double standard” and set one weekend for veterans against a full month for Pride. Another voter put it more bluntly: “die for this country and all the freedom's you gave us, have a day. Ridiculous”. Yet the more reflective Yes voters hedged, one warning that without more help for veterans a month would be “just lip service and skin deep”.
No voters took the comparison and turned it round. Several accepted that a month for anything was the problem, one saying simply that “Dragging it out to a month is tokenistic”. Others pointed to the days November already holds, and asked for “proper healthcare, housing support and help transitioning to civilian life throughout the year”. A gay No voter used Pride itself as the warning: “One day per 'thing' for recognition is absolutely fine.”
The most-respected No case went somewhere else entirely, condemning what it called “politization of UK veterans” by the right, and saying those same parties do nothing to help them. No Yes voter answered that directly, though some conceded that practical help mattered as much as recognition.
Both camps ended up asking for the same thing, better treatment of veterans. They divided over whether a month would deliver it or merely stand in for it.
84 Opinions
It's insane that Pride month gets a full 30 days despite the fact it has become a total sham, yet our veterans only get a single weekend and that is coming from someone who is part of the LGBT and also with a dad who served in the Navy and family who fought in the Falklands, I know the reality of military sacrifice even during peace-time It is a massive double standard and they deserve a full month of recognition.
The ever increasing politization of UK veterans by those on the right wing is abhorrent. Especially when those same parties do absolutely nothing to help these veterans and often cause more harm than good in any means of the rest of us trying to help them.
LGBTQ get a month, black people get a month, die for this country and all the freedom's you gave us, have a day. Ridiculous
Yes what we don't need is Black history or Pride Month! Highlight what our forefathers/mothers sacrifice & died for. The left who cry no are the ones to hang their heads in SHAME, our g/parents safeguard our Freedom of rights! What different world it wud be if Hilter had won! I am proud of my history...& yes I know, yet the left 4get every country has dark past! I'm PROUD TO BE BRITISH
Subjected to tortuous demonstrations ‘celebrating’ Pride forcefully stuffed down our gullets for weeks. These are often narcissistic aggressive & selfish people. Our Military are by comparison selfless being prepared to lay down their lives for King & Country nothing could be more striking in its perversity. Govt routinely lets our Armed forces down, Blair sent troops to Iraq knowing they had substandard kit. Servicemen buy their own kit as MOD provides substandard crap. YES
Great idea ,maybe get any veterans off street as well.
No. Why does every cause need an officially designated month? We already have Armed Forces Day, Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. November should retain its solemn focus on remembrance, not become another month of campaigns and gestures. As a former serviceman, I'd rather see veterans receive proper healthcare, housing support and help transitioning to civilian life throughout the year. Respect is demonstrated through action, not by reserving another page of the calendar.
Dragging it out to a month is tokenistic.
Rather than celebrate them in one month, we should care about them the whole year. Ensure ex-armed forces are not homeless, that ex and current soldiers are not charged with bogus crimes committed during the missions country send them.
Just performative nonsense that doesn't help veterans at all. How about ensuring that no veterans are living homeless on our streets instead?