Simon Hughes - Warm wishes and strongest support to Southwark councillor and all other troops in Afghanistan

4.18.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th Oct 2009

As Councillor Major Denise Capstick left London for her service in Afghanistan, Simon Hughes, the MP for the Braganza Street Territorial Army HQ in Walworth where Councillor Capstick and her unit are based, has sent best wishes to Denise and her colleagues for a safe tour of duty.

Councillor Capstick is serving as a medical officer in Afghanistan for three months. She has requested that her councillor allowance be stopped although she will still receive her council e-mails and post.

Simon Hughes said : "My thoughts and prayers are with Denise and all our servicemen and women in their very dangerous situations. I will be keeping in touch with Denise to listen to her experience and use this to assist my campaign for more help for our soldiers.

At our Liberal Democrat conference last month I successfully introduced a policy to support troops better with housing and employment when they return home, and to help families with burial and cremation costs when the most tragic circumstances occur.

Our armed services deserve the greatest dignity and respect during and after their service. Liberal Democrats are calling for an end to the scandal of returned armed service men and women ending up homeless and unemployed."

-ENDS-