A Suffolk war hero who survived eight bomb blasts has told this newspaper a new political party launching nationwide next month aims repair the country’s public services – and give disillusioned voters a voice.
Trevor Coult, from Woodbridge, won a Military Cross for fighting off bombers in Baghdad in 2005 and hit headlines after deciding to sell his medals.
The ex-colour sergeant was battling post traumatic stress disorder and at the time said his collection was a constant reminder of his experiences on the front line.
After years of campaigning to have PTSD recognised as a medical injury by the MOD, he and four others are now preparing to launch Democrats and Veterans – a new party hoping to transfer power back to the people.
Sgt Coult, who is currently raising cash to send veterans on an overseas expedition, said: “We now have over 350 people who if there was a snap election today they would be prepared to contest every single seat in the country.
“Obviously if there is an MP doing a fantastic job and the best for Britain we would not contest it but we feel like a lot of people are disillusioned with the current state of this country.
“You’ll have heard the recent news about UKIP and people resigning, as a party Democrats and Veterans are not left, not right, it’s straight down the middle and the people of this country are the priority.
He added: “Public services need to get better – and we also have a big problem in that a lot of veterans in this country are homeless.
“As a veteran myself I’ve struggled to get a home. I was discharged from the military with mental injury and was suffering PTSD but I still faced a long fight to get somewhere to live with my young son and wife.”
Democrats and Veterans aims to launch on February 9 in London, Sgt Coult said.
“It will be supportive of Brexit and leaving the EU because that was the will of the majority of the British people,” he added.
“People always say there’s a problem with migration – it’s not that exactly, we need to welcome these people in and help them, give them asylum but there needs to be better assessment.
“From personal experience I also believe mental illness needs to be taken more seriously.
“For quite a few years now I’ve been trying to get the issue of PTSD and mental illness into the public domain.”
To discover more, visit the Democrats and Veterans Twitter page.
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