Dear Member 16th FEBRUARY 2010
Many members of the AFPG will be confused as to what is going on within the organization – who is running it and what its current objectives are. As one who supports the AFPG and its campaign for justice for veterans who haven’t got military pensions, I want to make clear what my position is, as I have been the principle parliamentary supporter of the campaign over the last four years.
I became involved with the AFPG when a constituent, Sid West approached me about his pension – he did 17 years in the army and had nothing to show for it. I decided to do what I could to help, and my Parliamentary Assistant, David Langham, also ex-services, in his own time helped considerably in the cause. After our initial contact with the AFPG, we recognized the need to raise the political profile of the campaign – up until then the AFPG’s main, if not sole activity had been to pursue a failed legal case through the courts, costing its members over £1million. A new start was clearly called for, hence we organized a petition (now close to quarter of a million signatures), marches, a regional organization, and many other activities. David and I travelled the length and breadth of the UK to speak at start-up meetings. Sadly, this activity was not matched by the existing directors of the AFPG, who remained generally passive onlookers, albeit happy to attend a few of the activities we or others had arranged.
In the course of this period, we – and David especially – helped encourage new members to join, and well over a thousand joined, showing that there is a huge potential to build the organisation. We produced the newsletter “Equality” and merchandise was developed so that the AFPG had another way of making money.
For some reason, for which I still have no explanation, all this seemed to become a matter of concern to the existing directors, leading to a breakdown in communications. I was pleased therefore that some members, acting within their rights, set about arranging a process which would lead to the creation of a new management structure for the AFPG. This seemed to me to be about the best way of getting the AFPG onto a full, campaigning model, recognizing that the past failures, which had cost members so much for so little effect should be consigned to history.
I understand that the previous directors have refused to accept this way forward. It is my view that the previous directors should seriously reconsider their position, if the AFPG is to become a campaigning organization. I therefore fully endorse the actions of the group of members who have made preparations for a general meeting later this year, at which new directors can be democratically elected. Of course, the previous directors will be entitled to offer themselves as candidates in that election.
In conclusion I must say that the AFPG has a difficult campaign ahead, but if it can develop its membership – and we know the cause is popular – then it stands a far better chance of success. If it is run by people who recognize that, and are prepared to work at it, the AFPG will go from strength to strength. The alternative is a continuation of the steady decline it was in a few years ago.
Colin Challen MP
I have published this letter without comment. I shall later publish the response by the AFPG committee to this letter.
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