NEWBURY MP, Richard Benyon, has today (Wednesday) looked for assurances that soldiers serving abroad will be able to vote in the forthcoming general election.
During Prime Minister’s Questions at The House of Commons, Mr Benyon said he would not want to see a “perverse situation” where soldiers would be denied the right to vote in a general election while fighting to bring democracy to Afghanistan.
In response Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said: “The justice secretary [Jack Straw] is making the best arrangements possible so that everyone who is eligible for the vote will have a vote.
“It is absolutely right that everyone should have their chance to vote in a general election.”
Mr Brown also paid tribute to the men serving in Afghanistan who have recently lost their lives and said their heroism and bravery cannot and will not be forgotten.
He said: “They will be remembered with great pride by the British people.”
Mr Brown also said that Mr Benyon would receive a letter about his question.
Mr Benyon said after Prime Minister's Questions he would wait to see the outcome.
He added: “I think the proof [as to whether they get their vote] will be after the election.
“This is a fundamentally important matter about how much we respect our armed forces and how we treat them.
“It is a measure for any Government, they will be voting on the same issues as other people and it is important they have the ability to do so.”