Entertainment Swindon

For a second time Labour councillor and leader of the Labour led Swindon Borough Council Jim Robbins has decided to shun Swindon’s Armed Forces Community.

Last month Cllr Robbins took a jolly down to Portsmouth for a photo op during D-Day 80 Anniversary instead of organising a Beacon Lighting in Wiltshires largest town. Swindon Borough towns came out in remembering those who fell and the veterans that survived the largest amphibious landing in history that was the beginning of the end of WW2 and Hitlers grip on Europe.

Towns across Wiltshire including Highworth, Royal Wootton Bassett, Ramsbury, Pewsey, Marlborough, Cricklade, Lugashaw and Chippenham joined the national remembrance of those who took part in the D-Day landings, leaving residents of Swindon embarrassed and angered that Swindon’s Labour led Council had not bothered to do anything to remember those brave Swindonian’s that took part in the retaking of Europe from the Nazi’s.

This years Armed Forces Day passed again in Swindon with no public celebration of the Armed Forces Community in Swindon, instead a private invitation only event at the Civic Offices was used as a political PR stunt for Labour candidates for Swindon North & Swindon South taking centre stage for a photo-op ahead of this weeks elections, over shadowing what the day is supposed to be about, a day that is supposed to put the Armed Forces Communality front and centre, celebrating the achievements, commitment and bravery of our military personnel.

Cllr Robbins lack of attendance at the event was seen by some military personnel in attendance as insulting. Speaking to one reservist in attendance who did not want to be named said “Its a real shame, Swindon people want to see our armed forces celebrated. Instead our day just seemed to be politicised and taken over by the election campaign”.

Swindon residents took to social media showing their anger of Jim Robbins & the Labour led council, Shawn Cozens commenting on the SBC facebook post on Armed Forces Day said “Shame Swindon did NOTHING on D Day this year!!”, with Simon West replying “They did nothing for D Day or Armed Forces Day again”.

Another resident disgusted with the lack of recognition of Armed Forces Day like Chris Keeble said “Labour should be ashamed of themselves”.

Speaking to a number of SBC councillors outside of the Labour Party, it seems councillors were only made aware of the invite in a letter at last minute, just a couple of weeks prior to the day putting into question if the event itself was just a last minute PR stunt for political gain.

Swindon has not had an Armed Forces Day event for several years, under both Tory & Labour SBC leadership, but under the Labour Leadership, the Armed Forces Community has continued to be forgotten and used as a political photo-op.