Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party
The Labour party has spoken in favour of re-naming streets after war heroes who lost their lives in the tour of duty in Afghanistan and elsewhere. This call was made to councils in show the party’s position in appreciating the roles of these soldiers and appreciating the situation of loss which their families are experiencing. The party notes that it would be a ‘lasting personal memorial’.
While Ministers have supported the call expressing their inclination to ‘any ideas that pay tribute to our fallen heroes’. On his part, the Shadow Defence secretary, Jim Murphy, said: “Those who have been lost will always be remembered and loved by their families. In a letter to all councils, Mr Murphy and shadow communities and local government secretary Hilary Benn urged local authorities to adopt the policy. To this end, Labour advocates that Councils should approach the families of the bereaved soldiers to ascertain if they would show choice of particular streets they suggest be named in their memories. It is expected that this may reflect the activities or interests of the late soldiers and thus be relevant to the local environment. “Street naming will be a chance for their names to live publicly and forever.” In consultation with the family, the location and precise name of a road or street would be decided on, with people living in the street also consulted. An official opening ceremony, organised by the council, could then be arranged.
Shadow communities and local government secretary, Hilary Benn, urged local authorities to adopt the policy and added that ‘Barking and Dagenham Council have found a visible and enduring way for their local community to honour the memory of residents that have fallen in the brave service of our nation’. In 2011, Barking and Dagenham renamed a road after Private Tony Rawson, who was killed in Helmand province in Afghanistan in 2007. Similarly, a new street of council houses in the borough was named Martin Kinggett Gardens after Rifleman Kinggett, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010.
Minister for local government, Brandon Lewis, agreed that ‘it is right to honour our brave servicemen and women given the debt of gratitude we owe them’ and pointed out that ‘government (would) support any ideas that pay tribute to our fallen heroes.
It is necessary to note that Councils have the power to change street names and honour local armed forces personnel in this way or in any other way they may so consider.
