HUNTER SALUTES COUNCIL FOR ADOPTING “COMMUNITY COVENANT”

Stockport Council has approved a landmark armed forces "community covenant" which seeks to establish a commitment of care to service personnel, their families and veterans. Local MP Mark Hunter has welcomed the news after campaigning for the covenant in Parliament.

A Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local armed forces community. It is intended to compliment the national Armed Forces covenant, written into law in 2011, which outlined the moral obligation between the nation, the government and the armed forces at a local level.

The campaign for a community covenant was spearheaded by the Royal British Legion.

Commenting, a Royal British Legion spokesperson said:

"We would like all local authorities to sign up to the Community Covenant scheme.

"We see the scheme as an excellent opportunity to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and really bring its principles to life locally."

Commenting, Mark said:

"I am delighted that Stockport Council have adopted this important initiative which recognises the contribution of our service personnel and their families.

"Having campaigned for the covenant in Parliament with the Royal British Legion, I am keen to promote the covenant here in our local area now that the Council has thrown its weight behind it.

"It is absolutely vital that we recognise the lengths our servicemen and women go to - and have gone to - to defend our country; it is something we should never take for granted."