VETERANS who suffered mistreatment in the armed forces under the “gay ban” will receive up to £70,000 each as part of a £75 million government scheme, it was announced today.

Defence Secretary John Healey described the historic wrongs faced by LGBT+ service personnel as a “moral stain on our nation,” ahead of applications for the financial redress programme opening on Friday.

The total amount available will be £75m, exceeding the cap of £50m recommended in an independent review by Lord Etherton.

Under the ban, which lasted until the year 2000, members of the armed forces who were — or were thought to be — gay or transgender were subjected to brutal interrogation and dismissal.

Some have suffered lifelong consequences, being left without access to their military pensions, shunned by family and friends and facing diminished career prospects.

Campaigners hoping for a greater increase to the initial figure have expressed disappointment with the final sum.

Fighting with Pride’s Craig Jones said the amount would give “some degree of comfort” to those worst affected but that it was a “short-term fix” for veterans who do not have pensions to rely on.