Now the loony right turns its fire on... the poppy appeal

Now the Loony Right Targets the Poppy Appeal

The latest culture war in Britain is directed at the Royal British Legion (RBL), the charity behind the annual poppy appeal, which raises funds to support military veterans, serving personnel, and their families.

Criticism from Esther McVey and Laurence Fox

Former Tory minister Esther McVey expressed her disapproval on X, saying:

“Bought my poppy as I do every year… however, horrified to discover The Royal British Legion (RBL) has a Head of Diversity & Inclusion at a wage of about £65k – that’s a lot of poppies to sell just for that non-job wage! All the money should be going to veterans not on politically correct non-jobs.”

Similarly, actor and commentator Laurence Fox stated:

“Haven’t bought a poppy yet this year… Can’t bring myself to contribute to the head of diversity, equity and inclusion’s salary. I refuse to support it.”

The Role of Diversity and Inclusion at the RBL

The Royal British Legion defends this position as essential to providing tailored support for minority ethnic, LGBTQ+, and disabled veterans and serving personnel, who might otherwise hesitate to seek help believing the organization is not inclusive.

“The role criticised by McVey, Fox and hundreds of others is vital in organising support for minority ethnic, LGBTQ+ and disabled veterans and serving personnel who may not come forward for help from the RBL because they mistakenly believe it is not for them.”

Despite the criticism, the RBL maintains the importance of addressing diverse veterans’ needs to ensure inclusive support.

Author’s Summary

This controversy highlights ongoing debates about inclusion within respected veteran charities, reflecting broader cultural conflicts over diversity roles in traditional institutions.

more

The New European The New European — 2025-11-04

More News