MSPs to debate Walter Mitty war veterans amidst calls for Scotland to go further against fakers

MSPs are to discuss a bill aimed at clamping down on so-called Walter Mitty military veterans.

On Thursday Holyrood will consider the Awards for Valour (Protection) Bill after North East Conservative MSP Liam Kerr secured a members’ debate on the issue centred around people who falsely wear service or gallantry medals.

The proposal, which has also been introduced in the House of Commons as a private members’ bill, seeks to weed out folk who are passing themselves off as war heroes by wearing medals that don’t belong to them.

At the same time the intention is to give protection to close family members of military personnel who have died or been seriously injured by allowing them to wear their decorations at special commemorations, effectively on their behalf.

The late north east Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone had championed the cause before his untimely death at the end of last year following a short battle with cancer. He had lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament slamming those who falsely portray themselves as armed forces veterans.

Mr Johnstone had begun raising the prospect of a bill before he fell ill, and his former parliamentary aide has said that whilst pleased to see MSPs having the chance to discuss stolen valour, he hopes the Holyrood chamber will consider broader aspects of the issue.

Jim Millar said: “Whilst I welcome this debate insofar that it continues to raise awareness of stolen valour, the motion addresses only a very narrow aspect of what is a complex issue that goes far beyond medal-wearing.

“On that basis, I would hope that this is intended to be a stepping stone to ultimately bringing forward a more comprehensive solution to what many see as a serious and growing problem.”

One local veteran, who did not wished to be named, said: “We are all aware of the bill going through Westminster, but it does nothing about people presenting as being a veteran in need when they have never served.

“These can be individuals begging on the street wearing combat jackets and holding signs falsely claiming they served in combat, to ‘veterans’ collecting for dubious charities.

“It gives real vets a bad name.”

“We have a Scottish Parliament that can deliver a Scottish answer to this, so why waste time simply plugging a Westminster bill, when we can do so much more?  There has to be more to it than this.”