Minister Johnny Mercer calls for more help for military veterans

Johnny Mercer said more should be done for ex-servicemen and women, because returning to civilian life could be tough

A former soldier turned government minister said more should be done for veterans, after hearing of an ex-comrade's struggle.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer spoke after hearing how Paul Barnsley, 53, of Colchester, considered suicide after leaving the army.

Mr Mercer said he joined the government to ease the transition for veterans returning to civilian life.

He described his former comrade's struggle as "heart-breaking".

"It is really hard to leave the military and go back into civilian life," he told BBC Essex.

Mr Mercer, Conservative MP for Plymouth Moor View, said: "I became an MP because I was sick of the way this government and country treated veterans. They talked a really good game but actually, for my generation of veterans from Afghanistan, it felt pretty poor."

He said the government was now spending about £6bn a year on pensions, housing and employment schemes for veterans.

"We can do better in improving the perception of veterans, which is still that they are mad, bad and dangerous, which is total rubbish," he said.

Paul Barnsley, from Colchester, said leaving the army was almost like having an arm removed

Mr Barnsley served in the army alongside Mr Mercer in the early 2000s.

But he said leaving the army almost felt like he had an arm removed.

"It was tough - there were times I wanted to end it all," he said.

But now he has been appointed as an apprentice carpenter in Manningtree, Essex.

Mr Mercer said the government had not always got it right but said support for people who had left the forces had "never been better", although there was still room for improvement.

Urging businesses to employ veterans, he added: "These are the best people you can have in your company, it's the best business decision you can make."

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