Standing Up for Our Heroes: The Fight for ‘Pauline’s Law’

For the Liberal Democrats, the principle of fairness is the bedrock of everything we do. It is what drives our mission to protect the vulnerable and honor those who serve. Currently, however, our veterans are being met with a system that is anything but fair—a system that effectively "taxes" bravery.

​We are proud to champion ‘Pauline’s Law’, a new Parliamentary Bill spearheaded by Josh Babarinde OBE, aimed at ending a cruel loophole that penalizes injured veterans for the compensation they receive.

​An Absurd Injustice
​The campaign is inspired by the late Staff Sergeant Pauline Cole, a dedicated Eastbournian who served her country with distinction, including during the Aden Emergency. Like many veterans, Pauline received military compensation for injuries sustained during her service.

​Under current Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rules, this compensation is treated as "income." This creates a staggering disparity: while civil compensation is rightly ignored in benefits calculations, military awards are used to slash support. In Pauline’s case, her Pension Credit was gutted—dropping from £77 a week to just £11.

"It is frankly absurd that the government treats military compensation as a standard paychecks. Pauline stepped up for our country, yet the system punished her for the injuries she sustained while doing so. To see her Pension Credit slashed so drastically was a heartbreaking injustice that no veteran should have to endure." -Josh Babarinde OBE 

​A National Issue
​This isn’t just one isolated case. It is estimated that 50,000 veterans across the UK are currently facing the same financial penalty. For the Liberal Democrats, this is a clear breach of the Armed Forces Covenant, which dictates that those who serve should face no disadvantage.

​Josh Babarinde supported Pauline throughout her final years, even raising her case directly with the Prime Minister. Following her passing, that support has turned into a legislative crusade through the introduction of the Armed Forces Representative Bill (Pauline's Law).

​"I promised Pauline and her family that her fight wouldn’t end with her. By tabling 'Pauline’s Law,' we are demanding a simple, common-sense change: stop treating injury compensation as income. We must ensure that no veteran is ever punished for being injured in the line of duty." Josh Babarinde OBE

​The Liberal Democrat Solution: A Fair Deal for Veterans
​The Liberal Democrats are building a broad coalition to rectify this wrong, working hand-in-hand with the Royal British Legion and cross-party MPs. Our proposed solution is a permanent fix to the "Veteran Penalty" by enshrining the following into law:

​Reclassifying Compensation: Ensuring military injury pay is no longer classified as "income," bringing it in line with how the law treats civil injury awards.
​Protecting Benefits: Guaranteeing that military compensation for illness or injury does not count towards means-testing for benefits like Pension Credit.
​Strengthening the Covenant: Placing a legal duty on government departments to give "due regard" to the Armed Forces Covenant, ensuring veterans are never an afterthought.

​This campaign is a core pillar of the Liberal Demo3crat commitment to a Fair Deal for the Armed Forces Community, which seeks to improve veteran wellbeing and financial independence.

​We believe that those who have given so much for our country should never have to fight their own government for the support they were promised. It is time to deliver justice for Pauline, and for the thousands of veterans just like her.
​

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