122:
always be able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals, and that they (and their families) will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service. In the same way the unique nature of military land operations means that the Army differs from all other institutions, and must be sustained and provided for accordingly by the Nation. This mutual obligation forms the
Military Covenant between the Nation, the Army and each individual soldier; an unbreakable common bond of identity, loyalty and responsibility which has sustained the Army throughout its history. It has perhaps its greatest manifestation in the annual commemoration of Armistice Day, when the Nation keeps covenant with those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in action.
1347:
74:, other British armed forces and the media in relation to the question of adequate safeguards, rewards and compensation for military personnel who risk their lives in obedience to military orders derived from the policy of the elected civilian government. It is argued that armed forces personnel should expect to be treated fairly by
143:
However, it was not until 2000 that the Army published 'Soldiering – the
Military Covenant', setting out the obligations on the soldier to make personal sacrifices in the service of the nation, and stated that the armed forces must be sustained by the nation. The code had been drafted over the course
97:
There has been increased media coverage of the so-called military covenant as the government has been accused of failing to meet it; this criticism came from not just the media, but also several previous Chiefs of the
Defence Staff said the government needed to do more to help support injured troops
89:
Although the term "covenant" implies some form of legal guarantee or contract, there is in fact no basis in UK law, custom or history for such covenant. Members of the armed forces are recruited and maintained by successive quinquennial Armed Forces Acts as a specific, albeit continuing, derogation
85:
states "In putting the needs of the Nation, the Army and others before their own, they forgo some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the Armed Forces. So, at the very least, British soldiers should always expect the Nation and their commanders to treat them fairly, to value and respect them as
248:
newspaper reported that Prime
Minister David Cameron announced plans to enshrine the Military Covenant in law – such a development would allow British servicemen and servicewomen to sue the State for breaches of the Military Covenant. In February 2011 the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government
121:
Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices – including the ultimate sacrifice – in the service of the Nation. In putting the needs of the Nation and the Army before their own, they forego some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the Armed Forces. In return, British soldiers must
135:
statute provided for a weekly tax on parishes not to exceed 6d on the pound, so that disabled army veterans "should at their return be relieved and rewarded to the end that they may reap the fruit of their good deservings, and others may be encouraged to perform the like endeavours", and it is
228:
soldiers for the right to settle in
Britain at the end of their service, Mr Justice Blake's judgment in September 2008 recited the Military Covenant before observing that granting them residence in Britain "would, in my judgment, be a vindication and an enhancement of this covenant".
213:, and those injured would be treated immediately in hospital rather than go through waiting lists. Prescription charges would also be waived. A tight budget settlement for the Ministry of Defence in 2007 saw five former Chiefs of the Defence Staff launch personal criticism of
170:
during a keynote lecture on
Defence given on 12 January 2007 when he stated that the covenant needed to be renewed, and that "it will mean increased expenditure on equipment, personnel and the conditions of our armed forces, not in the short run but for the long term."
187:, injured in battle, who was awarded £152,150 despite injuries requiring care for the rest of his life. It also criticised the practice of treating soldiers in wards alongside civilian patients. In his conference speech that October,
249:
decided that there was no need to make the
Covenant law, proposing instead to cover it in an annual report to parliament – a Labour attempt in an opposition day debate to reverse this was defeated by 86 votes.
1001:
854:
94:, which otherwise prohibits the Crown from maintaining a standing army. The Armed Forces Acts guarantee no such covenant, neither do the Notice Papers served on recruits when attested on enlistment.
990:
431:
67:, and has now entered political discourse as a way of measuring whether the government and society at large have kept to their obligations to support members of the armed forces.
1072:
109:, committed the Party to fully enshrining the Covenant into law under a future Labour government and providing additional funding for mental health provision for veterans.
847:
56:, "it is an informal understanding, rather than a legally enforceable deal, but it is nevertheless treated with great seriousness within the services". It was coined in
1024:
344:
1067:
780:
1376:
1351:
840:
1034:
1029:
1019:
160:
183:
launched a campaign which accused the
Government of failing to meet its commitments under the Covenant. The Legion highlighted the case of a 23-year-old
557:
Townsend, Mark (9 September 2007), "Army inquest backlog grows: Widows must wait longer for results because coroner has yet to receive promised funds",
102:
1184:
1386:
1381:
1039:
375:
985:
963:
972:
863:
214:
164:
82:
62:
538:
1220:
437:
184:
1193:
1162:
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1147:
1305:
949:
873:
131:
Recognition of a special bond of mutual obligations between the state and its Armed Forces dates back more than 400 years: a 1593
1257:
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652:
405:
1236:
1214:
1011:
746:
679:
638:
Paragraph 72, Limbu & Ors, R (on the application of) v
Secretary of State for the Home Department & Ors
352:
1328:
1252:
939:
180:
1049:
789:
210:
188:
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1279:
132:
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944:
712:
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881:
761:
600:
47:
456:
MOD Welfare
Conference - Speech by Anna Soubry, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans
265:
1320:
91:
744:"The Military Covenant and British Civil-Military Relations: Letting the Genie Out of the Bottle."
810:
455:
325:
822:
774:
237:
149:
1204:
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468:
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from 2006. The existence of government obligations to the armed forces was accepted by the
1226:
1157:
1131:
920:
890:
583:
380:
236:
MP to establish the Military Covenant Commission. Chaired by the author and ex-RAF pilot
233:
209:
announced in November 2007 that armed forces veterans would get priority treatment on the
1098:
Non-Executive Defence Board Member and Chair of the Defence Equipment and Support Board
767:
562:
490:
401:
273:
218:
106:
43:
39:
521:
Burke, Jason (15 October 2006), "Richard Dannatt: The no-nonsense Christian soldier",
244:
OBE its report heavily influenced the current government's thinking. On 25 June 2010,
1365:
908:
578:
306:
192:
915:
717:
481:
Evans, Michael (3 April 2000), "Army covenant tells soldiers to expect sacrifice",
241:
206:
196:
71:
52:
17:
451:
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903:
410:
167:
137:
658:
145:
75:
1095:
Non-Executive Defence Board Member and Chair of the Defence Audit Committee
827:
743:
78:
and expect the support of the United Kingdom, society and the government.
693:
619:
Barker, Alex (23 November 2007), "Brown under attack over armed forces",
624:
486:
832:
117:
The introduction to ‘Soldiering – The Military Covenant’ reads:
225:
1092:
Non-Executive Defence Board Member and Chair of the People Committee
795:
155:
The term 'Military Covenant' was heavily promoted by General Sir
86:
individuals, and to sustain and reward them and their families."
27:
Mutual obligation between the British public and the Armed Forces
406:"The Tories are letting down veterans - Labour stands with them"
376:"Labour commits to putting Armed Forces Covenant fully into law"
136:
thought that this "unspoken pact" may date back to the reign of
836:
1002:
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People
599:
Taylor, Matthew; Norton-Taylor, Richard (23 November 2007),
505:
Eagar, Charlotte (19 August 2005), "The Magnificent Seven",
42:
public life to refer to the mutual obligations between the
828:
Armed Forces Covenant: Proudly supporting those who serve
1080:
Director-General Head Office and Commissioning Services
202:
Responding to the Royal British Legion's campaign, the
991:
Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry
694:"David Cameron confirms military covenant 'law' plans"
471:, publishes 18 September 2007, accessed 15 August 2020
539:"We need to spend more on armed forces, admits Blair"
343:
Harding, Thomas; Borland, Sophie (23 November 2007).
240:
CBE and with experts including the Falklands veteran
326:"Defence secretary hits back at admiral's criticism"
1319:
1289:
1266:
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1203:
1171:
1140:
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601:"Priority NHS treatment promised to war veterans"
119:
1068:Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence
848:
345:"Army funding shortage 'is insult to troops'"
8:
199:, I believe your government has broken it."
1030:Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord
144:of three years by senior officers led by a
968:
886:
855:
841:
833:
794:, The Royal British Legion, archived from
779:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
680:"Military Covenant to be enshrined in law"
70:The Covenant is a term used mainly by the
1185:Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
458:, 19 March 2014, accessed 15 August 2020
288:"Core Values and the Military Covenant"
257:
103:Minister of State for Veterans' Affairs
986:Minister of State for the Armed Forces
772:
7:
1377:Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
148:. The main author was Major-General
1221:Defence Infrastructure Organisation
307:"Brown hits back on forces funding"
195:referred to the Covenant and said "
101:In 2023, the Labour Party's Shadow
1194:United Kingdom Hydrographic Office
711:Hopkins, Nick (17 February 2011).
324:Walker, Peter (23 November 2007).
232:In opposition David Cameron asked
59:Soldiering – The Military Covenant
38:is a term introduced in 2000 into
25:
1306:National Museum of the Royal Navy
537:Jones, George (13 January 2007),
1346:
1345:
1258:Single Source Regulations Office
1207:managed on an arm's-length basis
1086:Director-General Security Policy
266:"What is the military covenant?"
1190:Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA)
1089:Lead Non-Executive Board Member
1025:Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff
217:Gordon Brown in a simultaneous
1387:Politics of the United Kingdom
1382:Military of the United Kingdom
981:Secretary of State for Defence
587:(online ed.), UK: The BBC
224:In upholding the claim of six
1:
1179:Defence Equipment and Support
996:Minister of State for Defence
823:GOV.UK: Armed Forces Covenant
713:"MPs block military covenant"
374:Needham, James (2023-10-13).
204:Secretary of State for Health
1232:Defence Nuclear Organisation
791:Honour the Covenant campaign
654:Military covenant commission
1045:Commander Strategic Command
642:(Admin; 30 September 2008).
1403:
1237:Ministry of Defence Police
1035:Chief of the General Staff
1020:Chief of the Defence Staff
760:Murray, Craig (Mar 2007),
747:Armed Forces & Society
742:Forster, Anthony. (2012).
161:Chief of the General Staff
1343:
1276:(under Strategic Command)
1215:Defence Business Services
1205:Top-level budget agencies
870:
1329:Oil and Pipelines Agency
1253:Defence Safety Authority
1246:Regulatory organisations
1083:Director-General Nuclear
1077:Director-General Finance
1073:Chief Scientific Adviser
874:Main Building, Whitehall
817:, UK: Type pad, Jan 2007
577:Cameron (October 2007),
351:. London. Archived from
313:. BBC. 23 November 2007.
181:The Royal British Legion
1050:Chief of Defence People
811:"The military covenant"
211:National Health Service
1335:Sheffield Forgemasters
1311:Royal Air Force Museum
1280:Defence Secretariat 19
1040:Chief of the Air Staff
124:
36:Armed Forces Covenant
1301:National Army Museum
1274:Defence Intelligence
507:The Evening Standard
98:and their families.
48:British Armed Forces
1321:Public corporations
1172:Arm's-length bodies
864:Ministry of Defence
749:38, No. 2: 273–290.
621:The Financial Times
543:The Daily Telegraph
440:on October 13, 2008
355:on 27 November 2007
349:The Daily Telegraph
92:Bill of Rights 1689
83:Ministry of Defence
63:Ministry of Defence
467:BBC Ethics Guide:
189:Conservative Party
179:In September 2007
1359:
1358:
1163:Strategic Command
1105:
1104:
958:
957:
469:Military Covenant
238:Frederick Forsyth
150:Sebastian Roberts
32:Military Covenant
18:Military Covenant
16:(Redirected from
1394:
1349:
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1291:Non-departmental
1141:Service commands
998:(House of Lords)
969:
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657:, archived from
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579:"Speech in full"
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175:Political debate
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50:. According to
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1117:Admiralty Board
1101:
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964:Defence Council
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737:Further reading
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402:Hopkins, Rachel
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381:Help for Heroes
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157:Richard Dannatt
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61:(booklet), UK:
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754:External links
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700:. 15 May 2011.
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640:2008 EWHC 2261
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404:(2023-05-16).
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219:House of Lords
215:Prime Minister
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165:Prime Minister
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44:United Kingdom
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798:on 2008-09-16
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661:on 2014-12-20
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1372:British Army
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1267:Intelligence
1153:Army Command
1148:Navy Command
916:British Army
882:Armed Forces
814:
800:, retrieved
796:the original
790:
762:
723:. Retrieved
718:The Guardian
716:
706:
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674:
663:, retrieved
659:the original
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605:The Guardian
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559:The Observer
558:
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523:The Observer
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438:the original
433:British Army
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415:. Retrieved
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385:. Retrieved
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357:. Retrieved
353:the original
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330:The Guardian
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242:Simon Weston
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113:The Covenant
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72:British Army
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65:, April 2000
58:
53:The Guardian
51:
35:
31:
29:
1158:Air Command
725:17 February
565:, p. 2
493:, p. 7
185:paratrooper
133:Elizabeth I
1366:Categories
1181:(DE&S)
1127:Army Board
1121:Navy Board
904:Royal Navy
802:2008-09-30
665:2013-11-14
623:, London,
485:, London,
452:Soubry, A.
417:2024-06-07
411:LabourList
387:2024-06-07
359:5 November
253:References
168:Tony Blair
159:, who was
138:Henry VIII
1282:(defunct)
973:Political
950:the Irish
483:The Times
332:. London.
294:, UK: MoD
292:Army Jobs
246:The Times
197:Mr. Brown
146:Brigadier
90:from the
76:the Crown
1352:Category
1012:Military
940:Scotland
775:citation
721:. London
698:BBC News
221:debate.
46:and the
191:leader
127:History
40:British
1196:(UKHO)
1187:(DSTL)
932:nation
226:Gurkha
1331:(OPA)
1223:(DIO)
1217:(DBS)
945:Wales
815:Credo
781:link
727:2011
584:News
545:, UK
361:2021
311:News
81:The
30:The
930:By
625:ENG
487:ENG
34:or
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813:,
777:}}
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