HOMES for former soldiers in Worcester need to drastically improve said a shadow minister during a visit to the city.

Labour’s shadow minister for the armed forces, Luke Pollard MP, was in the city to highlight the party’s recently launched Homes Fit for Heroes campaign.

It calls for accommodation for military personnel to be of the highest standard as new figures reveal the worrying state of some of the county's lowest-rated digs.

Ministry of Defence data uncovered by the Labour Party shows at least half of service personnel in Worcestershire live in single living accommodation which is rated ‘grade four’ by the government – the lowest possible rating.

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Mr Pollard said: "Across Worcestershire, half of all single living accommodation for armed forces personnel is in the lowest level of quality, grade four, that is 50 per cent.

"Across the country, we see defence accommodation where armed forces personnel and their families live in deteriorating quality getting worse and worse. 

"Single living accommodation at this [grade four] level is at 50 per cent, which is above the national average at 40 per cent.

"In Worcester alone, you have 3,500 veterans."

Worcester News: Robin Walker MP.Robin Walker MP.

Robin Walker MP fired back saying: "I think it is odd that the minister is coming to talk about this issue in Worcester as we have not had a permanent accommodation since the Norton Barracks which closed some years ago.

"His role was created by our government and many of the issues surrounding our armed forces were thanks to a lack of funding by the former Labour government.

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"I think veterans and armed forces personnel in Worcester are supported well and it is great to see our city council is led by a former member of the armed forces, Chris Mitchell."

The government grades single living accommodation based on “deficiency points” including the condition of bedroom decorations, fixtures and fittings, the standard of heating systems and how close the accommodation is to toilets and washing facilities.

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There is currently no minimum quality standard for single living accommodation and no minimum acceptable conditions that service personnel should expect.

A report by the National Audit Office in 2021 revealed “decades of underinvestment” in single living accommodation.

Tom Collins, who is the Labour party parliamentary candidate for Worcester, said the minister's visit to Worcester is "really valued.”

He said: "Worcester has 3,500 veterans and I think it is really important for Labour that they understand we support them.

Former city councillor Tom Collins was selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Worcester by party members at a meeting on Sunday (December 11).