Tories break promise and refuse tests for nuclear guinea pigs’ families
The Tories have refused to order a study into gene damage suffered by children of servicemen in nuclear tests.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson’s decision came days after his department finally admitted it never warned the men their families might be affected.
Children of the 1950s veterans report 10 times the normal rate of birth defects. But six months after he met campaigners and promised to help, Williamson has been accused of betrayal.
Shirley Denson, 84, who told the minister her husband Eric was ordered to fly through an H-bomb cloud, said: “The man who listened so carefully has let us down so badly.
A fifth of the children and grandchildren Eric and I had have deformities. Our family is one of thousands and Williamson knows this.”
Campaigners wanted research into the children’s health but instead Williamson spent a six-figure sum repeating an old study into the veterans’ cancer rates.
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said: “By raising hopes then dashing them with science designed to fail, the Defence Secretary has shown scant regard for those he promised to help.”
Records show those in charge of the Pacific trials knew of the risks by 1947.
But in December thousands of test documents, some due for immediate release, were removed from the National Archives without any explanation.
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