Rishi Sunak formally apologised to thousands of troops kicked out of the armed forces for being gay.
The Conservative leader opened Prime Minister’s Questions by issuing the apology on behalf of the State. It came as the Government finally published a 270-page report it commissioned by Lord Etherton into the treatment of gay people in the Army, Royal Navy and RAF.
Branding the ban “a stain on the illustrious history of the UK’s armed forces”, he recommended victims should be paid compensation from a total pot worth £50million. While homosexuality was decriminalised in 1967, anyone who was gay in the UK military before 2000 faced being booted out or had to hide their secret.
Thousands were jailed or dismissed for their sexuality and many were outed to their families and friends against their will before the ban was lifted 23 years ago. Mr Sunak told MPs: “The ban on LGBT people serving in our military until the year 2000 was an appalling failure of the British state, decades behind the law of this land.
“As today’s report makes clear, in that period many endured the most horrific sexual abuse and violence, homophobic bullying and harassment - all while bravely serving this country. Today, on behalf of the British State, I apologise, and I hope all those affected will be able to feel proud parts of the veteran community that has done so much to keep our country safe.”
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Ex-naval officer Craig Jones who chairs campaign group Fighting with Pride, and former RAF officer Caroline PaigeLord Etherton carried out a probe and sent his findings to ministers earlier this year.
Publishing his review, he revealed “shocking evidence of a culture of homophobia, and of bullying, blackmail and sexual assaults, abusive investigations into sexual orientation and sexual preference, disgraceful medical examinations, including conversion therapy, peremptory discharges, and appalling consequences in terms of mental health and wellbeing, homelessness, employment, personal relationships and financial hardship”.
He said: "I recommend that the Prime Minister should deliver an apology in the UK Parliament on behalf of the nation to all those LGBT service personnel who served under and suffered from the ban (whether or not they were dismissed or discharged)." The report also recommended an "appropriate financial award" should be made to veterans affected by the pre-2000 ban.
It said: "An appropriate financial award should be made to affected veterans notwithstanding the expiry of litigation time limits. The Government's overall exposure should be capped at £50m."
Labour leader Keir Starmer said his party was "proud to repeal the ban" on LGBT personnel serving in the forces. He added: "Today, we strongly welcome this apology from the Prime Minister as a recognition of their historic mistreatment.”
Former Army officer Cat Dixon, vice-chairwoman of campaign group Stonewall, said: “Today’s apology and announcements are an important step to achieving justice for those LGBTQ+ people who served in HM armed forces and like me, experienced shame, humiliation and a ruined military career because of our sexuality.
“Many were imprisoned, experienced corrective violence and lived with the stain of a criminal conviction because of who they loved and which left some homeless and many unable to work. Stonewall is proud to have played a key role in overturning the ban in the courts which was finally lifted in 2000, to have worked with HM armed forces over the years to support their journey to being LGBTQ+ inclusive employers, and in ensuring that LGBTQ+ veterans received today’s apology and where needed support.”
Royal British Legion director-general Charles Byrne said: “It’s been shocking to see the prejudice and mistreatment of thousands of LGBTQ+ people in the Armed Forces community who served under the ban laid bare.
“Many people who had dedicated their lives to serving their country were forced or felt pressured to leave the armed forces, and this mistreatment destroyed or shortened their career.”
Craig Jones, executive chairman of the charity Fighting with Pride, said: "The apology by the Prime Minister on behalf of the state and the opportunity of financial recompense for veterans that lived their lives in poverty were perhaps the two most important commitments that we heard today."
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Making a Commons statement, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, a former Scots Guards captain, said: “I was part of that Army, I was determined to give this statement today because I wanted to recognise that I had been part of that Army and thinking that I deeply regret.”
He said the report “makes for miserable and distressing reading”. He said veterans' testimonies “are truly harrowing”, adding: “They paint a shocking and shameful picture of defence that is hard to comprehend. The enforcement of the ban became something of a witch hunt.”
Those targeted would subject to “invasive searches and examinations, degrading tests, brutal bullying and in some cases sexual abuse”. He said ministers were “accepting in principle the vast majority of the report's recommendations”. A full Government response will come in the autumn.
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