Sir Keir Starmer marks 80th anniversary of VE Day by hailing World War Two veterans for their ‘greatest victory'
The PM has penned an open letter to the last of the generation on the day millions take to the nation's streets to mark
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day by hailing World War Two veterans
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D-Day veteran Alan Kennett, 100, of Lichfield, Staffs, will be carrying the Torch for Peace
The Labour leader writes: 'This week we celebrate the greatest victory our Armed Forces ever secured . . . a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil.
'VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid.'
Thousands of street parties are taking place to honour the war generation.
Up to 20,000 are expected at the Royal British Legion-arranged VE Fest 80 in Blackburn.
READ MORE ON VE DAY
In London's Docklands — a target for sustained bombing in the Blitz — the Bengali community is organising an event.
Thirty war veterans, aged from 98 to 104, will take tea with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace.
Among them will be Joyce Wilding, 100, who was in a covert resistance force, and Ruth Bourne, 98, who helped decrypt Nazi messages at Bletchley Park.
Both were among the
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Before the party, 1,300 service personnel, including Ukrainian fighters and troops from 11 Nato nations, will parade from Parliament Square to the Palace.
D-Day veteran Alan Kennett, 100, of Lichfield, Staffs, will be carrying the Torch for Peace.
Brits to get Bank Holiday bonanza this year to celebrate VE Day with star-studded concert, flypast & 4 days of events
Sir Keir Starmer's open letter in full
To our veterans,
As we approach the VE Day anniversary, I want to salute your ongoing dedication to keeping our country safe.
This week, we celebrate the greatest victory our armed forces ever secured.
And like so many families across the country, my relatives served and fought in the Second World War.
Therefore, it is the highest honour of my role to meet veterans of that conflict.
I think of people like Stanley Fisher and Mervyn Kersch, two Jewish veterans of the Normandy landings, who went on to become eyewitnesses to the horrors of the Bergen Belsen concentration camp in the early days of its liberation by British forces.
Their stories – and countless others we will hear this week – are a reminder that our victory was not just for Britain.
It was also a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil.
VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid.
Yet as the nation falls silent on Thursday, I know that my mind will also turn to those who carry the torch of their legacy in our armed forces today – people like you.
As time marches on, we all have a responsibility to renew the bonds of our history so that future generations inherit our national story as their own.
But alongside our history and our values, service is the other great force that binds a nation together.
So this week, I want you to know: the whole nation is inspired by the selfless dedication of your example.
It is not just that you keep us all safe. It is also that you represent the best of who we are.
A living link of service that unites the values we must stand for in the present, with the stories we must pass down from our past.
Furthermore, I know that this is not without sacrifice.
I will always remember the conversation I had with a sub-mariner in Faslane, who brought home exactly what over 200 days a year underwater means for the simple things most families take for granted.
Missing birthdays, weddings, anniversaries.
Not being there in the photographs. From the Carrier Strike Group at sea, to our postings in Estonia, Cyprus and here in the UK, every service man and woman I have met has had a version of this story.
And I recognise that this too is a debt that can never fully be repaid.
But this week, the country will show you just how thankful we all are.
Because we know, that without your service, the freedom, peace and joy that these celebrations embody, would not be possible.
So, wherever you are, wherever you serve, have a wonderful VE Day.
And on behalf of a proud and grateful nation: thank you for your service.
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The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
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The Irish Sun
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Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Presidential election: What Catherine Connolly says on Ukraine, the EU and Syria
With little more than two months to go until voters go to the polls, Independent TD Catherine Connolly is the only confirmed candidate in the race to succeed President Michael D Higgins . During her nine years as a TD, Ms Connolly, a committed Gaeilgeoir, has served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle and has proved to be an incisive performer on committees. She is highly regarded by left-leaning parties in the Oireachtas – reflected by the fact she has the backing of the Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit in the presidential election. In a contest, however, that places unremitting emphasis on the individual, their history in politics, their character and their actions, she will face criticism and scrutiny over some of her stances and actions. READ MORE The Irish Times posed questions to Connolly regarding her stance on global affairs, including her views on the war in Ukraine, Russia and Nato, the European Union and a controversial trip she took to war-torn Syria in 2018. Here is what she said. The Ukraine war, Russia and Nato Connolly's approach to the war in Ukraine has been to condemn Russia but also criticise western military alliance Nato, which she has argued was 'warmongering' before the conflict began. It is a stance that could be perceived by some as her blaming Nato for Russian president Vladimir Putin 's decision to invade Ukraine. During her nine years as a TD, Catherine Connolly has served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times In a Dáil debate on the eve of the February 2022 invasion, Connolly said: 'We should be raging against any possibility of war' and Ireland 'should be using our voice as a neutral country'. She criticised Putin as a 'dictator with no respect for democracy' but also contended: 'Nato has played a despicable role in moving forward to the border and engaging in warmongering. Ireland has been hypocritical on many levels.' She has also spoken in the Dáil this year about the need to continue to 'show solidarity with the people of Ukraine'. She referred to the refugees who have come to Ireland and said it was 'really important we call out what Russia has done'. The Irish Times asked Ms Connolly if she believed Nato was equally or partly to blame for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She said: 'Russia is conducting an illegal invasion of Ukraine – it must immediately end its horrific assault in accordance with international law and an immediate ceasefire. 'I have criticised Nato as its warmongering and escalation towards conflict over the years is at odds with achieving peace in regions across the world.' The European Union, US, UK and France During a Dáil speech on the third anniversary of the Ukraine war in February this year, Ms Connolly made criticisms of the US, the UK, France and the European Union (EU), and she highlighted the ongoing war in Gaza. She has been vocal in her criticisms of Israel , accusing it on other occasions of genocide in its campaign in Gaza and Palestine. During the Dáil contribution in February, Ms Connolly referred to Government plans to scrap the triple lock on the deployment of Irish troops abroad – a proposal she opposes, arguing it threatens Ireland's neutrality. Ms Connolly agreed with another contributor in the debate that there are countries 'we certainly cannot trust', adding: 'America is one of those and England and France are others. 'What is behind their motivation is simply an arms industry, more war, ongoing war, normalising war and making huge profits. That needs to be called out over and over.' She accused US president Donald Trump of 'supporting Israel trampling on international law and reducing Gaza to nothing'. Ms Connolly said: 'We do not seem to see any contradiction in calling out Russia – rightly so – but not calling out America or any of the other major powers. I have a huge problem with that.' She also said she has a 'huge problem with the EU, which has lost its direction', and she criticised EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen's stance on Gaza which is seen by many to be too pro-Israel. [ The Irish Times view on the presidential election: the race now looks very different Opens in new window ] The Irish Times asked Ms Connolly if she is saying the UK and France, two of Ireland's closest neighbours, cannot be trusted and if she is a supporter of the EU. In response, Ms Connolly said: 'The US, England and France are deeply entrenched in an arms industry which causes bloodshed across the world – as a staunch advocate for neutrality, this behaviour must be condemned.' She also said: 'The European Union, which I support, has lost sight of its foundations: a project developed to promote and preserve peace.' Ms Connolly contended: 'The EU has become increasingly militarised under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen and the European People's Party – this direction can only bring pain. As Irish people, we must resist this trend towards imperialism and show support for Palestine and Ukraine as Europeans.' She said: 'The EU has lost its moral compass.' The Syria trip Ms Connolly travelled to Syria in June 2018 along with then-fellow Independent TDs Maureen O'Sullivan, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace. At the time of the trip, dictator Bashar al-Assad was still in power and engaged in a brutal civil war. The country was under western sanctions. During her presidential campaign launch, Ms Connolly said she funded the trip herself, its purpose was 'fact-finding', and she 'met no member of government' and 'nor did I ever utter one word of support for Assad'. She said the delegation visited a refugee camp outside Damascus and 'saw first-hand the destruction of a whole city'. They travelled to Aleppo and met the Chamber of Industry, and also had a meeting with Unicef workers as well as visiting a convent. While in Aleppo, the Irish delegation met Syrian businessman and politician Fares al-Shehabi. Although he was an Independent MP, Mr al-Shehabi was a supporter of the military actions taken by the government side in the civil war. He was deemed a supporter of the Assad regime and placed under EU sanctions. After her return from Syria, Ms Daly challenged the Government in the Dáil to issue a visa to Mr al-Shehabi 'so that he might come to Ireland as a businessman and Sunni Muslim who believes in secular values and talk about what has happened in Syria'. The Irish Syria Solidarity Movement has previously criticised the trip taken to Syria by the four TDs, arguing it 'provided legitimacy to the Assad regime'. Photograph: Sam Boal/ Collins Photos During the same contribution, Ms Daly responded to criticism of Russia's role on the regime side of the civil war, arguing 'in many cases' people in Syria 'think the Russians are heroes'. The Irish Syria Solidarity Movement (ISSM) has previously criticised the trip taken to Syria by the four TDs, arguing it 'provided legitimacy to the Assad regime and its narrative'. In response to questions from The Irish Times, Ms Connolly rejected any such suggestion, saying: 'The notion that my visit to Syria to gain an understanding of a humanitarian crisis, that the EU had a hand in worsening, aligns me in any way with Assad's government is not acceptable.' She repeated she has 'never uttered one word of support' for Assad 'nor the actions of his government'. She said: 'Assad's dictatorship committed countless atrocities and human rights abuses, all of which I have criticised on the floor of the Dáil.' She said the year before the trip, 'many NGOs and charities on the ground, including the World Health Organisation, urged US and EU sanctions to be rescinded as they were not targeted, serving only to harm innocent civilians, often denying them essential medical supplies, leading to unnecessary deaths. A UN report and leaked memos at the time corroborated these facts'. Ms Connolly said: 'These sanctions served as the reason for my fact-finding mission – I also made this clear on the floor of Dáil Éireann.' Referring to Mr al-Shehabi, Ms Connolly she said 'met with a member of the Syrian opposition in his capacity as a member of the Aleppo Chamber of Commerce to get an idea of how things were on the ground'. Ms Connolly also said: 'If activists, NGOs and charities are to be blacklisted for such excursions, we will be damned to repeat the same mistakes in the future – it is only because of these fact-finding missions that we learned the extent of the destruction sanctions were causing to ordinary lives. 'Sanctions should never result in civilian casualties.' Ms O'Sullivan, who retired from politics in 2020, said the trip was a 'humanitarian visit' and 'we weren't going there to support Assad'. Asked about their interaction with Mr al-Shehabi, Ms O'Sullivan, said she did not have 'any idea of what his political views were. We met him as a businessman who wanted to get the economy in Syria back up and running again.' She insisted the trip was not 'political'. Ms O'Sullivan is strongly supporting Ms Connolly's presidential bid, describing the Independent TD as 'a woman of integrity and honesty' who is 'not afraid to speak the truth. 'She will be an excellent president particularly with her stance on human rights.' Ms Daly and Mr Wallace did not respond to attempts to contact them for comment. [ Can you have too much democracy? Opens in new window ] Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Ireland. Photograph: Getty Images Ireland's Defence Forces During a Dáil debate on a Defence Bill last year, Connolly said: 'We do not need an army.' Taken in isolation these remarks could raise eyebrows and prompt criticism, given she is seeking to become president, the supreme commander of the Defence Forces. The context, however, was a lengthy contribution where she also noted this role of the presidency; the army's aid to civil power and peacekeeping functions and said she is 'very proud' of the Defence Forces. While they are 'under-resourced', she said 'we all stand fully behind their most basic demands in terms of money and conditions' and made criticisms of the Government over the situation. She also said: 'Ireland will never be able to have an army. We do not need an army. We are an independent, neutral, sovereign country. Our strength lies in our independent voice. Our strength lies in making the UN institutions function better.' The Irish Times asked Connolly to respond to the suggestion that saying Ireland did not need an army while highlighting roles it performs, like peacekeeping, is contradictory. She reiterated that she is 'immensely proud of our Defence Forces' and its members adding: 'but pride cannot blind us to reality: conditions are worsening. 'The Defence Forces remain underfunded, under-resourced, and its members underpaid, who are left to serve and live in settings that are far below the standard they deserve. That is unacceptable, and it is long past time for change.' [ The Irish presidency is a moral role much more than a political one Opens in new window ] She said: 'There is no contradiction between what I said in 2024 and what I say today. 'Then, as now, I was clear: our Defence Forces are defined by their civic duties at home and their peacekeeping work abroad. 'They are not, and should never become, an army. Armies fight wars. They are increasingly militarised. They are, by their nature, at odds with a nation's neutrality. 'Our Defence Forces exist to protect our people, our sovereignty, and – in Ireland's case – to foster peace where conflict has broken out.' She added: 'Ireland needs our Defence Forces. We must value, respect, and support their members. But Ireland does not need an army. 'Our true strength is in our independent voice, carried above the shouts of those who beat the drums of war. 'That voice must be safeguarded and amplified – at all costs.'
