EXPOSED: British Nuclear Test Veterans Demand Truth as MoD Faces Allegations of Decades-Long Cover-Up
LONDON – Decades after tens of thousands of British servicemen were exposed to nuclear bomb tests during the Cold War, fresh allegations suggest a deliberate cover-up by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that continues to deny veterans and their families access to potentially life-altering medical records.
The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has described the UK’s treatment of its nuclear veterans as “a criminal cover-up on an industrial scale.” Speaking on BBC Newsnight, Burnham accused successive governments of suppressing the truth about the health impacts of atomic and hydrogen bomb testing conducted in the 1950s and 60s.
“Why has this issue remained buried for so long?” Burnham asked. “Because it cuts to the heart of the British state.”
Victims in Uniform, Forgotten in Peace
Between 1952 and 1967, more than 39,000 British and Commonwealth personnel were ordered to participate in 45 nuclear weapons tests and numerous radioactive experiments across the Australian Outback and South Pacific. The men, many barely out of their teens, were provided little to no protective gear as they witnessed thermonuclear explosions that dwarfed Hiroshima.
Survivors, now mostly in their 80s and 90s, have spent decades battling not just debilitating illnesses but also what they describe as an intentional stonewalling by the MoD.
John Morris, 87, recounted how he operated a laundry on Christmas Island, handling radioactive uniforms. He watched multiple atomic and hydrogen bombs explode just miles away with only a shirt, trousers, and sunglasses for protection.
“It was like sitting inside the sun,” Morris said. “The MoD claims they looked after us. I’m sorry, but they’ve got a lot to answer for.”
Morris blames his exposure for his autoimmune condition, cancer, and the tragic death of his infant son, Steven, born with severe birth defects. For years, John and his wife were suspected of foul play in their son’s death, only for a Freedom of Information request to later reveal the likely link between radiation exposure and Steven’s underdeveloped lungs.
A Legacy of Disease and Denial
Similar stories echo across Britain.
Brian Unthank, another test veteran, said he received no protective clothing during two hydrogen bomb detonations and has since undergone treatment for 92 skin cancers. His first wife endured 13 miscarriages.
Steve Purse, born to a test veteran, lives with a range of severe congenital conditions. His young son’s teeth are disintegrating a condition a dentist likened to cases seen among Chernobyl fallout survivors.
Despite these accounts, the UK government maintains there is no definitive evidence linking the veterans’ participation in nuclear tests to adverse health outcomes. The MoD has relied on studies conducted by the National Radiological Protection Board, which found no significant deviation in health risks compared to control groups. But critics argue these studies are outdated, limited in scope, and conflict with growing anecdotal and international evidence.
Medical Records Out of Reach
Perhaps the most damning accusation is that the MoD continues to withhold critical medical data collected during and after the nuclear tests. Blood and urine samples taken from veterans have been classified as “scientific data” and locked away at the Atomic Weapons Establishment under a database called Merlin, making them legally inaccessible to the men whose bodies they were taken from.
The MoD claims the database is largely unclassified and plans are underway to release some records. However, campaigners fear that many crucial files have already been destroyed, altered, or sanitised.
“The policy has always been ‘delay, deny, until they die,’” said investigative journalist Susie Boniface, who has extensively covered the issue. “Veterans believe key records have been deliberately removed.”
In May 2021, the MoD publicly claimed it does not withhold any personal data or medical records a claim that veterans and their legal representatives flatly reject.
A Legal and Moral Reckoning
Now, the veterans are fighting back. A group has lodged a formal criminal complaint with the Metropolitan Police, accusing the MoD of misconduct in public office and orchestrating a cover-up.
The Met has confirmed receipt of the complaint but has yet to launch a full investigation. “The report is currently being assessed,” a spokesperson said.
Campaigners argue that time is rapidly running out. Many of the veterans are frail and dying. Burnham and others are calling for Parliament to intervene before the last witnesses to Britain’s nuclear experiments take their truths to the grave.
Internationally, countries such as the U.S. have taken steps to acknowledge the toll of their nuclear tests, offering up to $75,000 in compensation per victim. The UK, despite its wealth and scientific capability, has lagged behind on both justice and transparency.
Even symbolic gestures have been contentious. While some medals have been awarded, survivors see them as a hollow recognition for lives forever altered and families scarred across generations.
What’s Next?
In a statement to Newsnight, the MoD offered platitudes: “We are deeply grateful to all those who participated in the UK nuclear testing programme and recognise their immense contribution to national security.”
Behind these carefully worded reassurances lies a growing public scandal one that threatens to further erode trust in the British military establishment.
The veterans are no longer willing to be silent. They are demanding full declassification of medical data, an official apology, compensation, and, above all, the truth.
KEY FACTS:
Over 39,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen took part in nuclear weapons tests between 1952–1967.
Veterans allege cover-ups, missing medical records, and generations of unexplained illnesses.
MoD claims “no personal data is withheld,” but Merlin database remains locked and partially classified.
Legal action and a criminal complaint are now in motion.
Survivors demand compensation, transparency, and justice before it’s too late.