Stephen Dixon has launched a scathing attack on Defence Secretary John Healey during a GB News interview condemning the Government's treatment of military veterans as an "absolute disgrace".
The GB News host expressed outrage at statistics revealing the disproportionate number of former service personnel currently incarcerated in British prisons.
Stephen Dixon said: "But about veterans we have a problem in this country. We don’t treat veterans in the right way, for whatever reason.
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Stephen Dixon grilled the Labour MP
|GB News
"Actually, on a purely personal point, I was recently invited to a family dinner for veterans in a prison, which highlights how many veterans are ending up in prison.
"And that’s a disgrace, isn’t it? That’s an absolute disgrace that the proportion of our prison population who are veterans is ridiculously high, all things considered."
Mr Healey responded: "Well, a couple of things sort of go together, really. The armed forces, without a doubt, set people up for success in life.
"The level of employment among those who have served in the forces is higher than in the general population.
"But the damage and difficulties faced by some who struggle with civilian life whether that’s housing and homelessness or getting into trouble with the criminal justice system often mean that the problems are more intense and require specialist support that, too often in previous years, has not been available.
"We’re starting to put in place extra help for homeless veterans. We’ve got a special scheme for those who do fall foul of the justice system.
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"And, above all, we’re looking to improve veteran support across the country so that people aren’t dependent on the postcode lottery as they are at the moment.
"Where they live shouldn’t determine what help is available to them."
His comments come as the nation prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, marking the end of the Second World War following Japan's surrender on August 14, 1945.
The battle within the Pacific saw approximately 30,000 British troops and around 111,600 US troops die in the war.
VJ Day 80 to be celebrated with flypast and series of events | GB NEWSCelebrations will take place on August 15 to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender to the Allied forces.
A series of flypasts will take place at the Royal British Legion’s national commemorative event at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
In London, a sunset ceremony and lightshow recognising the contribution of the Commonwealth to the Second World War on the eve of VJ Day at the Memorial Gates, including a laying of the wreath from Lord Boateng on behalf of The King during the ceremony.