Campaigners for the nuclear test veterans have pleaded with Sir Keir Starmer's Government to keep the promises Labour made in opposition, with veterans and their families subjected to a lifetime of illnesses linked to radiation exposure.

In the 1950s and 1960s, nuclear weapon tests at sites like Christmas Island in the Pacific and Maralinga in Australia, saw 39,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen and scientists exposed to high levels of radiation.

Documents at the time, now seen by GB News, detailed how the tests were not just about the weapons, but also the "detailed effects” of the explosives on “men with and without various types of protection”.

Whilst in opposition in 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Defence Secretary John Healey said they were committed to helping the veteran’s campaign.

In a video sent to a conference with nuclear test veterans, then-Shadow Minister Rayner said: “The veterans affected by this are not asking for a lot. They simply seek recognition for their suffering.”

Speaking as then-Shadow Defence Secretary Healey added: “The UK remains the only nuclear test country in which there is no scheme at all for compensation and recognition. Your campaign is our campaign.”

Nuclear test campaigners demand Keir Starmer acts after promising to give them answers

The Ministry of Defence has now said ministers have directed teams across the department and Atomic Weapons Establishment to thoroughly examine what information exists regarding medical testing of nuclear test veterans.

At Prime Minister's Questions last week, Rayner said: “We're looking into unresolved questions regarding medical records. Mr Speaker, as a matter of priority.”

Despite a year in Government, none of the ‘Merlin’ database which holds tens of thousands of records related to the nuclear test veterans has been declassified.

Alan Owen, founder of the campaign group LABRATS International, says the fight is with the heart of the Government.

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Documents at the time, now seen by GB News, detailed how the tests were not just about the weapons, but also the "detailed effects” of the explosives on “men with and without various types of protection”

“When you look at the other scandals we’ve had like the infected blood scandal, the Post Office, it was easy to give the blame to somebody else like Fujitsu.

“But this is the Ministry of Defence, this is at the heart of Government.”

He added his frustration at how slow things have been to progress after promises were made by Labour.

He told GB News: “Things have been hidden from the veterans for 70 years under ‘national security’.

Alan Owen from Labrats International

“These aren’t national security issues, someone’s blood and urine test is not a national security issue.

“You are meeting with us regularly, but most of the meetings are ‘we haven’t got an update for you’.”

For veterans like Dennis Hayden, who served at Maralinga, and Terry Hughes, who was witness to the H-bomb test at Christmas Island, there is a lack of accountability for the impact of the tests on them and their families.

Hayden claimed: “It seems the Government are playing a bit of a game here to delay until all of us nuclear test veterans have died.

“This is the tactic of the British Government to avoid any accountability and responsibility for the illnesses and premature deaths of the nuclear test veterans as well as the genetic damage that’s been given to their children and grandchildren.”

Hughes added: “My son is unable to have children. I'm convinced it's through the effects of the radiation, because it's never happened before in the family.”

Susan Musselwhite helped to start LABRATS International with Alan Owen.

Daughter of a nuclear test veteran, she noticed she was born with the same illnesses as other descendants from across the world. She told GB News of her anger at the Government.

She said: “The Government bare-faced lied to us. They wanted us to help them get into power, we’ve helped them get into power, why can’t they stand up and do the right thing and do what they said – help us.

“The veterans are dying on a daily basis. Just to turn around to them and say sorry, ‘I’m sorry’ could make a massive difference.”