Antinuclear

Britain’s Maralinga nuclear test veterans take their case to European Court of Human Rights

Labour ‘snub’ for A-bomb veterans The Shields Gazette, 13 June 13 A NUCLEAR test veteran from South Tyneside is “very disappointed” at the response of Labour Party leader Ed Miliband to a call for support.  John Taylor wrote to Mr Miliband, on behalf of himself and the 1,000 ex-servicemen, demanding justice after being exposed to radiation during British nuclear weapon tests in the Pacific in the 1950s.

Mr Taylor, 76, of Carnegie Close, South Shields, had a chance meeting with the Labour leader, while he was supporting Emma Lewell-Buck during her successful by-election battle in the town. But although Mr Miliband asked Mr Taylor to write to him about the campaign, the atom bomb veteran was “unhappy” with the Labour leader’s response.

Mr Taylor said: “Basically, everything in the letter was stuff we already knew. There was no pledge to back our campaign. “There is nothing in Ed Miliband’s letter that suggested he was going to support us. I was very disappointed, because I thought Mr Miliband could have taken up our fight in Westminster.

“I think the veterans’ solicitors will be disappointed with his response too. “His letter really suggested that we would have to fight our cases individually, rather than as a concerted campaign.”

Wearing little or no protective clothing, Mr Taylor witnessed three nuclear explosions between July and September 1957, as part of Operation Antler, while serving as a leading aircraftman with the RAF in Maralinga, Australia.

All the vets claim the nuclear tests caused medical problems for themselves and their families……..

Although the veterans saw their case rejected by the Supreme Court in London last year, Mr Taylor and fellow campaigners hope for a more positive hearing later this year at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/crime/labour-snub-for-a-bomb-veterans-1-5761740

June 14, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized