Sheffield father of Iraq soldier calls on Vance to resign

A Sheffield man whose son was killed in Iraq has condemned “glib” and “offensive” comments about overseas troops by US vice-president JD Vance.

Vance said an American stake in Ukraine’s economy was a “better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.

The comments were criticised by UK opposition politicians, who accused Vance of disrespecting British forces.

Bill Stewardson, whose son Kingsman Alex Green, 21, died in Basra in 2007, said Vance’s comments “lacked common decency” and called on him to resign.

Mr Stewardson said Vance “epitomises everything that a statesman and a leader should not be”.

The UK and France have said they would be willing to put troops on the ground in Ukraine as part of a peace deal.

Vance later insisted he did not “even mention the UK or France”, adding that both had “fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond”.

However, he did not specify which country or countries he was referring to in his original comments.

Vance’s comments drew criticism from UK opposition politicians.

Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge pointed out both the UK and France deployed forces alongside the US in Afghanistan, adding: “It’s deeply disrespectful to ignore such service and sacrifice.”

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Vance was “wrong, wrong, wrong”, adding that the UK “stood by America” for 20 years in Afghanistan.

Mr Stewardson, 64, a former porter at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, said he “rejects” Mr Vance’s clarification.

He told the BBC: “He’s realised the price he may have to pay for the rubbish he said.

“It’s not about the UK or France or anywhere else.

“It’s about showing respect to people who knowingly put their hands up and make the ultimate sacrifice.”

The former NHS worker said he had never felt more offended by comments about the military.

“I’ve had people tell me my son deserved it because he was a soldier,” he said.

“But for a senior politician to belittle and trivialise our war effort like that, where’s the respect?

“To trample on our grief in a glib, throwaway offensive comment, it shakes my confidence in the whole political position.”

After Kingsman Green’s death, Mr Stewardson wrote a book for bereaved parents, titled Fear of a Blank Mind: An Epitaph for a Generation?

He admitted he “struggled” every day.

“You don’t forget. It sounds trite but every single day it’s there.

“If I go to a rugby game, it goes through my mind, what would Al have made of this?”

Mr Stewardson said an apology from the vice president would not be enough.

He said: “What does he have to do to be removed from that office?

“He should leave the world’s political stage and go home in shame.”

The BBC has requested a response from the White House.