Episode #4
Calvin Bailey MBE MP- The Veterans' Minister on the defining moment during Op PITTING Afghanistan
Send us Fan Mail Jonny Ball welcomes Minister for Veterans & People at the UK Ministry of Defence, Calvin Bailey MBE MP. We talk about his growing up in South East London, what inspired him to join the RAF, and the power of football communities with the Armed Forces. This was recorded exclusively for Veterans In Politics. We also pay tribute to Operation Pitting, as we hit the 5 year anniversary of the withdrawal from Kabul, Afghanistan, where as a pilot, Calvin played a vital role. This episode is dedicated to all those who served and the civilians impacted by conflict. Calvin is the Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead, elected on the 5th of July 2024. Born in Zambia, Calvin’s family moved to London, settling in Plumstead. Growing up in south-east London as a young Black man, he faced far-right violence and was deeply affected by the tragic murder of Stephen Lawrence, the older brother of his close friend Stuart. This event profoundly influenced Calvin’s politics and desire to serve the community. Calvin graduated with a Master of Engineering from the University of Exeter in 1999 and later completed a Master of Arts in War Studies at King's College London in 2017. Calvin spent over 24-years in the Royal Air Force, rising to the rank of Wing Commander. During his military service, he led humanitarian efforts and operations in conflict zones. He was awarded an MBE for his support of relief operations in Haiti and the Philippines. He also proudly led critical missions, including commanding the UK's largest deployed Air Wing during the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing the evacuation of 14,000 people from Kabul during Operation Pitting where he made the critical decision to double the number of passengers taken per flight, recognising that the risk of overloading the aircraft was outweighed by the risk to the lives of those who would have been left behind. Calvin became a junior minister in Keir Starmer's government when he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People on 12 June 2026. A role he kept during the Burnham reshuffle. See more here: https://www.calvinbailey.co.uk/ Support the show ✅ Support The Show Help Us Grow! Help us reach more veterans by donating the cost of a cup of coffee today... A small donation helps us pay our publishing fees & expenses and enables us to reach even more people by creating the content you love! You can do this for just a few pounds (or contact us about becoming a sponsor by emailing jonny@greatcampaigns.co.uk) Easy ways now are here: PAYPALhttps://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/ZKMAHSTCH2RNJ REGULAR GIVING https://www.buzzsprout.com/1394725/support
