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The Mirror's Medal For Heroes campaign stormed Parliament today with an astonishing show of support from across the political spectrum.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, his deputy Tom Watson, and even Tory Brexit minister Suella Braverman joined forces to back our call for recognition of Britain’s nuclear test heroes.

They met Shirley Denson, 83, widow of RAF ace Eric who was subjected to radiation experiments, as well as Doug and Sandie Hern whose daughter Gilly died at the age of 13 after her dad was exposed to the fallout from five different bombs.

(Image: DAILY MIRROR)

Corbyn told the Mirror: "The UK government put these men in harm’s way by asking them to take part in nuclear tests with little to nothing by way of protection. The veterans have had to live and die with the repercussions ever since.

“A medal is the first and least thing we can do to right the wrongs these veterans and families have endured, and I fully support the Mirror's campaign to give them the recognition they deserve.”

It is an historic win for the Mirror’s campaign, as it is the first time any party leader has met a nuclear veteran and agreed to back them.

Visit petition.parliament.uk/petitions/220170 to sign the online petition.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

The MPs were joined by comedian Al Murray, better known as the Pub Landlord, who has joined the campaign. He said: “My dad and my father-in-law were both National Servicemen so they could have been in these tests. The same could be true for any one of us.

“The Military Covenant demands we look after our veterans, but anyone in the forces today would look at what’s been done to these guys and see that for a lie. It’s wonderful to meet them, but absolutely horrifying to hear their stories first-hand.”

Government minister Suella Braverman was among the Tory supporters. She said: “It’s really important to hear their stories of decades-long struggle and what their families have had to put up with. I think there would be a lot of support for this campaign and Parliamentary interest if we can get this heard.”

(Image: TIM ANDERSON / Daily Mirror)

The MPs heard how Ministry of Defence documents showed Eric was exposed to 65 years’ worth of radiation in just 6 minutes while he flew through the mushroom cloud of Britain's biggest nuclear bomb in 1958. Scientists knowingly maximised his exposure, and were aware of the risk of genetic damage. Eric’s descendants have a 37% rate of birth defects and widow Shirley, 83, from Morden, south London, blames his later suicide on the effects of the radiation.

Former navy cook Doug Hern, 81, and wife Sandie, 72 from Spalding, Lincs proudly showed them a photo of their daughter, and told how during two years of treatment for adrenal cancer she was photographed daily, but three hospitals now claim to have lost all records of her treatment.

Studies have shown a third of the veterans were dead before 1999. Their wives report three times of the normal number of miscarriages, and their children show 10 times the usual rate of birth defects.

Visit petition.parliament.uk/petitions/220170 to sign the online petition.

Birmingham MP Jess Philips said: “I can’t think of any word to call it other than premeditated murder. It’s a total dereliction of duty on the part of the MoD and it shouldn’t be the responsibility of the veterans to prove the link. The link’s obvious.”

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry added: “The point is that nuclear veterans are recognised by other countries and it’s shameful that ours does not. The moment has come for them to be given justice."

Stoke-on-Trent MP Ruth Smeeth said: “The veterans have had to wait much too long and we now need actions, not words.” Shadow communities secretary Andrew Gwynne added: “We must recognise the sacrifices they made for our country and right these wrongs. It’s time for the government to act."

(Image: Sunday Mirror)

Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham, Jon Cruddas, added: “A lot of people have felt the consequences of our nuclear tests and it’s absolutely brilliant the Mirror is making sure we don’t forget them. With 155,000 descendants of our nuclear veterans, there isn’t a constituency in the country that won’t be affected.”

Tory grandee John Hayes, patron of the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association, said: “It’s a human tragedy that transcends party politics."

Oldham MP Jim McMahon said: “When people step up to do their service for the nation it’s important that service is recognised. It’s a fantastic campaign by the Mirror.”

Visit petition.parliament.uk/petitions/220170 to sign the online petition.

Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith vowed to put pressure on opposite number Gavin Williamson, who was conspicuously absent. She said: “It’s high time that our brave nuclear veterans were recognised with a medal. It’s a simple thing that the Defence Secretary can do very easily, without admitting liability."

Former Treasury minister Liam Byrne said: “This is a matter of justice and duty and the government’s shameful treatment of some of our bravest veterans who put themselves right in the danger zone has got to be stopped, now.” Burnley’s Julie Cooper said: “I’ve been quite affected hearing about it. It’s such a small thing to do, the MoD can have no excuse for not giving a medal."

There was also support from the House of Lords with Labour peers Baroness Alicia Kennedy and Lord Roy Kennedy, and cross-party peer Baroness Bryony Worthington signing the petition. Ealing MP Rupa Huq said: “It’s been eye-opening to learn what happened to these men. The public should hear and the government must listen."

(Image: Harry Page)

Morden MP Siobhan McDonagh paid tribute to Mrs Denson, saying: “She has been relentless and determined and without thought for her own health. We must honour the nuclear veterans.” Maria Eagle said: “A medal seems to be the least we could do. It’s a scandal that for years the real suffering that’s resulted has not been recognised by the nation." Angela Eagle added: “It’s a really worthwhile campaign and the test veterans deserve recognition for the sacrifices they made."

Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury said: “What’s really surprising is so many countries acknowledge responsibility and ours is the only one that doesn’t. The issues are not going away, in fact more children are being born with birth defects every day."

Ilford's Mike Gapes said: “This has been a scandal for decades and the veterans have never had the recognition they deserve. We must rectify it urgently.” Tan Dhesi from Slough added: “I can’t understand why the government is the only one on Earth not to recognise the risks the nuclear veterans ran."

(Image: Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror)

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins, Sheffield’s Louise Haigh, Khalid Mahmood from Birmingham Perry Barr, Colleen Fletcher from Coventry, shadow health secretaries Paula Sherriff and Barbara Keeley, shadow veterans minister Gerald Jones, deputy speaker Rosie Winterton, Chris Elmore from Ogmore, shadow children’s minister Emma Lewell-Buck and Southampton’s Royston Smith were also joined by Tories Andrew Stephenson from Pendle, Banbury’s Victoria Prentis and Mark Menzies from Fylde.

Mr Menzies said: “The least we can do is consider a medal for these veterans but in reality we need to do a hell of a lot more."

Also supporting were Andy Slaughter from Hammersmith, Diana Johnson from Kingston upon Hull, shadow culture minister Kevin Brennan, Phil Wilson of Sedgefield and Yvonne Fovargue from Makerfield.

Shipley MP Philip Davies pledged his support to the campaign but added: “I won’t deal with the Mirror.”

Visit petition.parliament.uk/petitions/220170 to sign the online petition.