Further to our news about SNP and Lib Dem support for armed forces personnel representation, an analysis of the Labour Party record on this issue is being produced and will be posted here shortly. Readers will be aware of BAFF's political neutrality; more on that point below.

Representation for armed forces personnel has yet to become official Labour Party policy. Its record in Government on that issue has been patchy, with one Defence Minister (Kevan Jones MP) having been every bit as supportive as policy allowed, and at least one other having rather gone the other way. BAFF had very significant support from a Labour member of the House of Commons Defence Committee in the 2005-2010 Parliament - Linda Gilroy MP - who became our main parliamentary sponsor, and there has been strong support from a number of other Labour MPs.

BAFF and the General Election

BAFF encourages its members, and others in the armed forces community, to register to vote, and then to exercise their own voting choice in any election or referendum. British Armed Forces Federation's political neutrality is not only hard-wired into its Constitution, but also demonstrated by its consistent track record while operating in the public arena and online over more than eight years. BAFF continues to build cross-party support for the principle of service personnel representation, and remains available for consultation by any registered political parties or candidates.