Ex-Army Candidate Dan Byles says a Tory Victory will be ‘Great News for Soldiers’

Dan Byles is the unusual Conservative candidate in the General Election for North Warwickshire and Bedworth. Once the youngest major in the Army, Dan holds two Guinness World Records for charity fund raising expeditions that have seen him cross the Atlantics Ocean in a wooden rowing boat and walk to the Magnetic North Pole with his mother.

His foray into politics started when he became disillusioned with politicians while serving as a Staff Officer in the Ministry of Defence during the Iraq invasion. He left the Army vowing to get elected and to support British soldiers as an MP. Five years later, and just over two weeks out from the general election, he is potentially on course to do exactly that.

This week, Dan took a break from meeting voters on the door steps and the high streets to welcome Conservative proposals that will see a boost to soldiers and their familes. Tory pledges include:

· Double the operational bonus for troops serving in Afghanistan;

· Maximise troops' Rest and Recuperation time;

· Ensure that injured servicemen and women are treated in a dedicated military ward;

· Pilot a mental health tracking service for veterans;

· Change the rules for service voting registration to ensure that our troops are not locked out by the rules Labour introduced;

· Include service children within our plans for a pupil premium in schools, ensuring they attract extra funding;

· Provide university and further education scholarships for the children of servicemen and women killed while on active duty; and

· Review the rules governing the awarding of medals.

Speaking from the campaign trail, Dan said: “I left the Army to stand for election because I was so furious with the government’s treatment of our soldiers and their families.

“That’s why I am delighted at this package from the Conservative Party which will be a real boost for our Armed Forces.

“This government has badly let our troops down. No government in history has asked so much of our servicemen and women, while giving them so little in return. And as ever, it is the poor bloody soldiers who suffer for the politicians’ mistakes.

“I want to see a government that supports our soldiers, and that understands the the sacrifices they are making for us all. That’s why I want to see the back of Gordon Brown and the Labour Party.”