Ministers set to apologise to thousands of former servicemen and women kicked out of the Armed Forces for being gay

Ministers are set to apologise on Wednesday to thousands of former servicemen and women who were kicked out of the Armed Forces for being gay.

The Ministry of Defence is poised to publish a long-awaited report into the so-called ‘gay ban’ that operated in the military until the year 2000.

Former Master of the Rolls Lord Etherton was appointed last year to conduct a review of the way in which thousands of serving military personnel were hounded out because of their sexuality.

The inquiry has heard evidence from more than 1,000 veterans and their families, some of whom were jailed after being court martialled.

A Whitehall source said the report’s findings were ‘very damning of the way people were treated’.

The Ministry of Defence is poised to publish a long-awaited report into the so-called ‘gay ban’ that operated in the military until the year 2000

Although homosexuality was decriminalised in 1967, the ban on gay people serving in the Armed Forces was only lifted in the year 2000.

Up to 20,000 personnel are thought to have been dismissed on the grounds of their sexuality. In many cases their treatment had disastrous consequences for their future careers.

In a joint statement last month, ex-Naval officer Craig Jones, and former RAF officer Caroline Paige, of the campaign group Fighting with Pride, said witnesses had described ‘the full force of the “gay ban” – how it devastated their lives, causing impoverishment, the loss of careers; homes; families; friends and lifelong trauma’.

They added: ‘The report will reveal how military police hunted them down, subjected them to brutal investigations, during which some were abused.

‘Many served prison sentences, as recently as 1995. Despite their experiences, these veterans hold our Armed Forces in high esteem and have continued their service by the act of giving evidence.’

Ministers have already expressed regret for the historic ban.

Announcing the inquiry last year the then-defence minister Leo Docherty said: ‘The historic ban was wrong and those who were thrown out of the military purely because of their sexuality suffered and we acknowledge that.’

Former Master of the Rolls Lord Etherton was appointed last year to conduct a review of the way in which thousands of serving military personnel were hounded out because of their sexuality

Campaigners are hoping that Rishi Sunak will offer a formal apology today on behalf of the Government. Some are also pushing for compensation for wrongful imprisonment and loss of earnings.

The Government has already made moves to right what is now widely seen as a historic injustice.

In 2021, the veterans minister Johnny Mercer announced that military personnel sacked for their sexuality would be invited to apply to have their service medals returned to them. In some cases, people had had their medals physically ripped from their chests at court martial.

A scheme allowing people to have historic convictions for now-scrapped offences relating to homosexuality was extended last year to cover military convictions and cautions.

A government spokesman said: ‘We are proud of our LGBT veterans and grateful for their service in defence of our nation.

‘The treatment of LGBT serving personnel pre-2000 was wholly unacceptable and does not reflect today’s Armed Forces.

‘Lord Etherton has concluded his independent review and submitted his report to the Government. We are carefully considering the findings and will respond in due course.’