Judi Online - David Cameron has snubbed a campaign to stop dead war heroes with no next of kin from being buried in paupers’ graves, saying it is up to charities to help, the Sunday People can reveal.
Widows
and family of ex-servicemen and women can, under current legislation,
apply for a government grant of £2,200 towards their funeral expenses.
But those who die alone have nobody entitled to apply on their behalf, so are buried in unmarked plots.
Funeral
director Sue Maclean wrote to the Prime Minister pleading for action
after the death of Michael Clarke from cancer in 2013, The Sunday People
can reveal.
The 66-year-old ex-Royal Marine had no family and a friend was told the only burial option was a council-funded pauper’s funeral.
Sue was so disgusted she organised the funeral herself, and more than 130 mourners turned up to pay respects.
Bandar Bola - But
despite only around 20 service men or women dying without next of kin
each year, the PM told her to “seek a charitable solution”, to avoid
placing “too great a burden on the taxpayer”.
Sue of Scunthorpe,
Lincs, branded Mr Cameron’s dismissal of her suggestion “disgusting”.
She said: “No person that has given up their yesterday for our tomorrow
should leave this way on a final journey.
“As a taxpayer, I would not see this as a burden.”
A
Conservative spokesman said: “The PM has asked the military covenant
committee to look into the issue, to ensure no veteran suffers an
undignified funeral.”
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