For four decades, this publication has been a strong advocate for the nuclear veterans, persisting when their stories were overlooked by others. The recent review, released during the World Cup semi-final, serves as validation of their accounts, demanding accountability for past actions.

In 2018, Parliament was informed that the Ministry of Defence claimed it had no records of blood testing on troops during nuclear weapon tests. However, after being compelled to disclose 315 pages of previously concealed information, it has come to light that the MoD possessed this data all along, shielded by state secrecy.

Additionally, there are approximately 50,000 files under the MoD’s ownership that have not been authorized for scrutiny, potentially leaving out 5,339 veterans from critical health studies. Shockingly, medical records were purposefully destroyed until September of the previous year, coinciding with the closure of the review, despite repeated assurances to ministers and the courts that no blood testing program existed.

Serious criminal allegations are now being investigated by Thames Valley Police regarding this cover-up, which has had devastating consequences for numerous service families, impacting their lives, well-being, and mental health.

Since 1983, when Paul Foot originally exposed the “Curse of Christmas Island,” and the Sunday People launched an investigation into the “Atom Bomb Kids,” the British government has continuously denied and deceived regarding the experiences of troops stationed at Montebello, Emu Field, Maralinga, and Christmas Island, as well as the indigenous populations residing there.

Historical figures like Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, and Margaret Thatcher downplayed the risks and true extent of involvement, contradicting the emerging evidence. Despite repeated efforts by the government to refute claims, ongoing revelations, including human experiments and genetic research, have substantiated the veterans’ accounts.

Efforts to seek justice for the veterans have been ongoing, with recent developments indicating that a special tribunal may be established under the incoming Prime Minister’s leadership. This tribunal aims to uncover the truth, end the cover-up, and potentially lead to prosecutions, providing closure for those affected.

Throughout their struggles, the veterans have exhibited tremendous courage, while the MoD’s actions have been characterized by avoidance and fear. These servicemen, once treated as mere test subjects by the government, are seen as heroes by us and deserve the recognition and justice they have long been denied.