In a shocking admission of failure to our armed servicemen and women, the Conservative Defence Secretary recently admitted that our armed forces had been ‘hollowed out and underfunded’ over the last decade. 

This includes recent reports that less than 50% of our armed forces live in satisfactory accommodation, whilst nearly 5,000 soldiers are living in accommodation that is so poor, no rent is being charged at all. 

Labour’s campaign is calling for members of the armed forces and their families to submit evidence as part of the Kerslake Review, commissioned by Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey, to report on the state of current housing provision for defence personnel, and make recommendations on how it could be improved under a Labour government. 

There is currently no minimum quality standard set for Single Living Accommodation and no minimum acceptable conditions that service personnel should be able to expect. A 2021 National Audit Office report on Single Living Accommodation exposed ‘decades of underinvestment’ and even ‘problems with heating and hot water.’ 

Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield and former Shadow Armed Forces Minister, said:  

‘It is a national scandal that those that fight to defend our country are not given proper living accommodation. The quality of defence housing has a direct impact on morale, recruitment and retention of our armed forces.’ 

‘The Conservatives have been told about these problems for years, yet the situation has worsened, and servicemen and women have poor quality housing that is simply not fit for purpose.  

‘That’s why I am sharing Labour’s campaign to collect evidence so that the next Labour Government will focus on service personnel and their families, ensuring those on the frontline don’t have to worry about the home front.’ 

Personnel and their families can submit their views anonymously at: 

 https://labour.org.uk/homesfitforheroes/