Armed Forces Day has faced opposition ever since it began in 2009, in the wake of resistance to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year, the national event in Falmouth was met with a peace parade through the city. In Leicester, the city council now prevents the Armed Forces from inviting children to handle weapons, following a campaign by local residents.
In previous years, the national event has cost councils hundreds of thousands of pounds to run, while the MoD will spend more than £420,000 on local events to commemorate the occasion.
In the run-up to this year’s event, the PPU and ForcesWatch have reported increased numbers of requests for materials for protests. Postcards saying “War is not family entertainment” have been sent to numerous groups across the UK.
Joe Glenton, a veteran from ForcesWatch, said: “The annual Armed Forces Day was conceived as a response to the post-Iraq and Afghanistan crisis in public opinion. It serves to create acceptance for the use of violent force, and as a tool to recruit the next generation. While supporting individual personnel and veterans is important, this day seeks to put a gloss on military institutions and military action. We hope to see a continued decline in the number of local councils supporting this.”
‘Glaring examples of militarism’
Geoff Tibbs from the PPU said: “At a time when we are seeing schools and hospitals attacked in Gaza and Ukraine, Armed Forces Day events are presenting war as family entertainment. Children are being invited to handle the very kinds of weapons that are killing civilians abroad. We must resist these glaring examples of everyday militarism on our streets.”
In Cambridge this year, residents have organised a peace camp to oppose the city’s first ever event for Armed Forces Day, arguing that it seems “wholly insensitive” to hold a self-described military fair against the backdrop of the war in Gaza.
Further protests are taking place in Leicester, Portsmouth, Leeds, Weymouth and Aldershot.
The Telegraph understands that while no local authority bid to host the national event this year, nearly 200 community events are taking place across the UK, in all four Home Nations.
It is also understood that the MoD provided a full package of Armed Forces Day funding to every community that applied for it to ensure such events were successful.
The MoD has been contacted for comment.