Cameron snubs British Legion on bereaved families

At Prime Minister's Questions today (2 November), David Cameron rejected the Royal British Legion campaign to keep the role of Chief Coroner for bereaved families.

The Prime Minister was also unclear on the detail of his Government's own policy. Mr Cameron said that the establishment of the Chief Coroner's Office would involve "something like £10m of spending" which "could be better spent on improving all coroners' services".

However, the credibility of the Government's figures has been questioned on numerous occasions by independent third parties, including the Royal British Legion, and the Government has not said it would invest in coronial reform. Mr Cameron also said he wants to improve "all coroners' services across the country", but that is exactly what the Chief Coroner's Office would achieve.

Labour has backed a major campaign by the Royal British Legion, which has said that axing the Chief Coroner would "be a betrayal of bereaved Service families" and that introducing national leadership under the Chief Coroner's post is the only way to tackle the problems of unacceptable delays, a lack of accountability and inconsistent standards across the country.

During last week's debate on 25 October on the Public Bodies Bill, Labour MPs voted for an amendment to keep the Chief Coroner from Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy, as did several Conservative rebel MPs. After the vote was lost, due to the votes of Lib Dem and Tory MPs, the Royal British Legion said that it was "saddened that this important opportunity to do the right thing by bereaved Service families was not taken by the Government".

Hull North MP Diana Johnson said: "In Hull volunteers and veterans are working hard to promote the Poppy Appeal and raising vital money for the British Legion. I'll be out selling poppies myself in Hull this weekend.

"The Government should do the right thing by our Armed Forces and their families, particularly in the run up to Remembrance Sunday, and listen to the British Legion on keeping the Chief Coroner post."

Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, Michael Dugher, said: "Honouring the commitment to create the office of Chief Coroner is the first test of the Government's commitment to the Military Covenant. Failing in their duty to meet that test makes a mockery of the Government's assurances of greater support for the military and their families.

"It is clear from David Cameron's response at Prime Minister's Questions that he does not understand his Government's own policy. As we approach Remembrance Sunday, David Cameron should look into this again, listen to the Royal British Legion and do the right thing for all bereaved families, who deserve an independent, expert coronial system".