BEN McBEAN is a war hero who proudly served his country – and lost an arm and a leg in Afghanistan.
That he had been denied a blue badge disabled parking permit by council pen-pushers is a disgrace.
Our veterans deserve better.
Here, two respected voices – veterans minister and former Commando Johnny Mercer and Falklands War hero Simon Weston – demand authorities give our heroes their due respect.
PLYMOUTH City Council should be ashamed for thinking a double amputee veteran does not need a blue badge.
I deeply felt the exasperation of Ben after he told this paper: “How much more disabled do I need to be?”
As the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs I am dedicated to helping everyone who has fought for our freedom to have the best possible life here in the UK.
Having served in the same conflict where Ben was injured, I know the difficulties faced by those returning from zones of conflict.
After such personal sacrifice they make for this country, I am clear that veterans deserve nothing less than our deep respect and all the support they need to lead a rich and full life.
They should not be spending their days quibbling over whether or not they are disabled. It’s maddening.
It is blatant misunderstandings like this that make me wonder if all our local authorities truly understand the unique difficulties many of our veterans face.
Here is a man who was praised by Prince Harry as a hero, who has to regularly go to and from hospital because of a broken ankle, who finds it harder than others to get about, who the majority of people would look at and think, “He probably needs more support than most”. Yet he is denied a local lifeline because of a “computer says: Not disabled” attitude.
What’s important is that we continue to judge each veteran’s needs on a case-by-case basis, so they can receive bespoke support.
It is this type of wrap-around approach that our Armed Forces Champions are supporting across the country. Their goal is to work closely with each local authority so they provide the very best care.
I want our local services to work for our veterans, rather than against them
Johnny Mercer
In fact, all councils have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which enshrines in law that every member of our Armed Forces and their families are treated fairly, making sure that those who are injured through combat see no disadvantage compared to anyone else.
I know Plymouth City Council has signed the Covenant, so it seems a great shame that it has found itself arguing with a vulnerable veteran.
It is these types of issues I hope will become less and less common as we continue to strengthen the role of our Armed Forces Champions.
I want our local services to work for our veterans, rather than against them, so heroes like Ben McBean get the help they clearly deserve.
PEOPLE seem to think that military veterans are like supermen and women because we are well-trained to do our job.
But we are not trained to be blown up. We are not trained to be burned.
We just happen to have a different mindset about what we do after it happens. That is why Ben, who lost an arm and a leg, ran a marathon.
He should not be rejected for a blue badge because he ran a marathon on a prosthetic leg. He should be applauded and treated with the attitude that he did it despite his disability.
Local councils should have people dedicated to veterans, especially in places like Ben’s home city of Plymouth, because of the number of ex-forces personnel living there.
They have huge numbers of Marines, Army Commandos, Royal Navy and Airforce in their patch.
Ben’s colleague Mark Ormrod, who lost both legs and an arm, swam a kilometre in open water and has done other challenges.
Is he entitled to a blue badge? I certainly think so.
Apart from raising funds, a lot of these guys are trying to find if their spirit is still there. Do they still have the desire and drive to get off their backside and achieve something?
It does not mean you are going to be doing it for a living and it does not mean you are going to be these things for ever.
Also, I don’t think it should matter how much compensation you get, you should be allowed to park closer to the shops.
I am not going to lambast Plymouth council because I don’t know all the circumstances, but councils should be more aware of the people they adjudicate on.
I have spent a couple of days with Ben, he is a charming young man.
Is he entitled to a blue badge? I certainly think so
Simon Weston
He is also an admirable example of young service people and a great example of what the Marine Corps is all about.
We need to make sure veterans like Ben are recorded on a register held by local councils and given all the help they require — and that includes a blue badge if they need it.
It is a big worry that it feels like our Armed Forces are off the agenda — and injured veterans are right off the agenda.
We have only been out of Afghanistan two years and it seems nobody thinks about the Armed Forces at all.
We must not reach a point where society is questioning whether a veteran deserves a disabled drivers’ badge.
