Cllr Paul Watson- The independent veteran councillor on a Union for the Forces

James Paul Watson (known as Paul) joined the Irish Guards straight from school and completed 6 operational tours including Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He sustained a spinal injury in Afghanistan, which ultimately led to his medical discharge from the British Army in 2015. He immediately enrolled at Salford University where he graduated in 2018 with a degree in Political Contemporary History before being elected as a local councillor. Whilst at university, Paul began to become disillusioned with society's relationship with the veteran community - specifically how our injured veterans are dependent on charities for support post-service.

Paul fundamentally believes that it is the responsibility of local and national government to provide for our veteran's aftercare, as it was the politicians and not the charitable sector that send us to war, hence, the accountability lies solely with them. Paul was diagnosed with complex PTSD in 2017 and uses his platform to promote positive mental health by being honest and open about his own battles with PTSD.

In 2021, Paul released his memoirs where he challenges the MoD's policy regarding the mental health of both serving personnel and veterans, and in 2022 founded the Ex-Forces Union to lobby on behalf of our veterans.

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https://www.exforcesunion.org/

OP Courage: Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Combat Stress is the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans  Call them on 0800 138 1619, text them on 07537 404 719 or email helpline@combatstress.org.uk.