Trump can forget, but we will always remember them, Crawley Observer Column, Wednesday 28th January 2025

When you consider what makes up the UK’s national identity, what comes to mind? The Royal Family? Fish and chips? Our National Health Service. Expert queuing? Great answers, but for me nothing quite embodies our national character as much as Remembrance Sunday.

The UK is far from alone in having a day dedicated to remembrance, but the day unites people across every part of our nation in taking the time to reflect upon the sacrifices made so those of us here today can live free from tyranny.

With ten months until November, why am I writing about this now?

Over the last year we have become well-accustomed to the current President of the United States making drastic policy changes and wild pronouncements, often with significant negative global consequences.

With America so economically and militarily dominant, countries have had to navigate a tightrope in how they respond to President Trump, often ignoring statements he makes today in the knowledge he will probably deny ever having made them tomorrow. However, the President’s recent denigration of the sacrifices made by NATO forces isn’t the first time such comments have come out of the current US administration. MAGA’s regular dismissiveness of the contributions made by America’s allies in military conflicts hits differently, because it’s not just dismissing us, it’s insulting the best of us, those who made the ultimate sacrifice for both of our nations.

Crawley has always proudly supported our armed forces and many local young people have chosen to serve, with Crawley families losing children in conflicts. Over recent years we have named new developments after them, so their names can live forever in the hometown.

The Prime Minister was right to challenge the President over his comments and last week I moved an Early Day Motion to remember the sacrifices of forces personnel who lost their lives in Afghanistan following America’s call for NATO for support, naming Crawley’s John Brackpool and Scott Summers amongst those who served and fell.

The President can choose to forget the sacrifices others made for his country, but in the United Kingdom: we will remember them.