In Plymouth and across the country, the government is leaving Armed Forces personnel and their families without heating and hot water during the coldest Christmas for more than a decade.

This is a national scandal. Ministers must act now to fix it, as I said today in Parliament.

Footage of water pouring into homes. Stories of endless waits for basic repairs. These are particularly difficult to watch when the government is cancelling troops’ leave this Christmas to support essential services.

The government handed contractors £144m to maintain service family housing this year. But almost one in three service family homes is awaiting repairs and, between June and October this year, more than 5,000 maintenance appointments were missed.

Today I asked the government if the £144m contract they negotiated is value for taxpayer money. They didn’t even pretend it is.

Decent housing is a fundamental part of the government’s moral contract with our forces. As the Shadow Armed Forces Minister, I will keep raising the alarm until this calamitous situation is resolved.

You can read more here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63976593