Christmas message from The RT Hon John Healey MP
Dear Defence Families
I am honoured to write to you this Christmas as the Secretary of State for Defence. This is a role that I was delighted to accept from the Prime Minister in July of this year having spent the previous four years as the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence. It is an incredible privilege to do this job.
In a world in which global insecurities are rising, we as a country and as a nation, depend more and more on those who are willing to serve. And those who are willing to serve are supported by the families that stand with them and behind them.
Every day, I am inspired by the men and women across our Armed Forces. Our service personnel work with dedication and professionalism all year round to keep our country safe. Theirs is the ultimate public service. And it is abundantly clear from my conversations with personnel, how crucial the support of family is in enabling that work.
I want to pay tribute to all the families across UK Defence for everything you have done through 2024 to help make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.
As we approach Christmas, I will be thinking in particular of those families who will be spending Christmas apart: the almost 10,000 personnel and MOD Civil Servants on duty and abroad on operations over the festive period, and their loved ones.
In the past few days, I was able to visit our troops deployed in Tapa, Estonia, to thank them for their work defending NATO’s Eastern border. To them, and to all those who will be deployed over Christmas, and to all those families apart and missing loved ones, I want to say a special ‘thank you’ for your service and your dedication.
It is personally important to me that the support that families provide to those who serve is recognised. I hope in the coming year that I am able to meet more of you to understand your experience – and the often extraordinary stories you have to tell.
Many of you will be aware that as a Government we have committed to introducing an Armed Forces Commissioner – the first of its kind in the UK. The Commissioner will be a strong independent champion for our service personnel and their families, committed to improving service life. And we will strengthen the rights of the Armed Forces community still further by putting the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law.
As this year draws to a close, the commitment and professionalism of our defence people continues to be called upon, often at short notice. And they rise to meet this challenge every time.
In this increasingly uncertain world, the work they do – and which you support all year round – is ever more vital. I know that they can only do this with your love and encouragement.
On behalf of the Department, and the whole of Britain, thank you for the sacrifices you continue to make.
I wish you all a very happy and restful Christmas.
The Right Honourable John Healey MP
Secretary of State for Defence
