UK NEWS

BROWN TREATS FORCES 'WITH CONTEMPT'

Admiral Lord Boyce says Gordon Brown treats forces with contempt

Friday November 23,2007

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Members of the armed forces feel that Gordon Brown has treated them with "contempt" by appointing a part-time defence secretary, Admiral Lord Boyce said.

The former defence chief declared that troops feel insulted by the Prime Minister's decision to appoint Des Browne as Scotland Secretary as well as Defence Secretary.

He also repeated his claims - made with other former military top brass in a House of Lords debate on Thursday - that budget cuts at the Ministry of Defence are risking soldiers' lives.

Lord Boyce, who was chief of the defence staff in 2003, told BBC Breakfast: "I feel that he (Mr Brown) has let the armed forces down by not appointing a secretary of state who is full-time.

"When you have got people who have been killed and maimed in the service of their Government, and you put at the head of the shop someone who is part-time, that sends a very bad message.

"And that is the message I get back from our soldiers, our sailors and our airmen. They feel insulted, they feel that he is treating them with contempt."

Lord Boyce and four other former defence chiefs directly criticised Mr Brown's "unsympathetic" record on the armed forces as Chancellor in the Lords debate on Thursday.

They warned that under-investment had put troops in danger and that a "desperate" funding situation would result in "blood on the floor" of the Ministry of Defence.

Labour former defence minister Lord Gilbert joined in with the criticism, accusing the PM of bringing the criticism on himself "by some injudicious actions".

But Defence minister Derek Twigg responded by insisting morale in the armed forces was "good" and that the present successors of the chiefs of staff did not share their concerns. Troops on the front line told him they had "the best personal equipment they have ever had" and expenditure had been increasing more than since the 1980s, Mr Twigg said.

SQUADDIES

23.11.07, 7:48pm

This gov needs to be carefull, if the army did roll up to Westminster the people would back them, In the old days they used to throw all the shit in the Thames, a bit more wouldn't be noticed.

• Posted by: preddo53 • Report Comment

US AND THEM

23.11.07, 6:36pm

The problem is that us common sense Brits judge our ruling elite by the same codes of honour and morals we have.

Most mainstream politicians have a completely different mindset; one which would likely provide a good head doctor with plenty of material for multiple case studies.

• Posted by: GreenEngland • Report Comment

KIND OF OFF TOPIC; BUT HAS ANYONE READ THIS APPALLING REPORT?

23.11.07, 4:30pm

It’s in the Daily Mail, about how two women had the breathtaking arrogance to complain about injured/disabled Iraq war veterans swimming in the local pool…

“Two women complained that the [disabled] soldiers [using the swimming pool] would scare children and that they should not be given precedence over paying customers.”

This happened at Leatherhead Leisure Centre in Surrey.

These women should indeed be named and shamed.

I’m including this here, to pledge my support for our soldiers.

• Posted by: back_to_basics • Report Comment

ITS NOTHING NEW

23.11.07, 2:58pm

British Governments have always treated our troops with contempt throughout the ages. Most wars they fought, they were used as cannon fodder. Haig. "Send another 10,000 over the top!" while he sipped his brandy in safety. Modern day is a different ball game. They are treated with contempt by Government plus civillians show them contempt also with snipe remarks. Our forces are second to none and are there to protect us, when the chips are down they put their lives on the line while the civillians run the other way.

• Posted by: fireowl • Report Comment

NEW LABOURS TREATMENT OF THE FORCES

23.11.07, 2:54pm

From my experiences as an ex-member of the Armed forces, all governments over the several decades have failed to give sufficient funding to the armed forces for equipment, research into new and better equipment, accommodation, after care for injured servicemen and saleries.
During the 1960's through to the 1990's successive governments have reduced the defence budgets but the reductions have been more noticeable and harsher under a Labour administration.
The Conservative administration under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher down sized the Navy and withdraw our Naval presents around the Faulkland Islands which gave the green light for Argentina to invade the Islands.
We had very little equipment and manning levels in the Armed forces to reclaim the faulklands but a combination of good luck Argentinian errors the forces reclaimed the Islands.
Since the faulklands war our forces have been further reduced in size and funds. When John Major was PM the MOD was handing out reduntancy notice to soldiers on front line active service in Bosnia and at that time our forces (Army) were stretched very tightly with the committments of Approximately 15000. troops in Northewrn Island, etc.
When New labour got in the funding was reduced even more but because of Blairs ambitions on playing the political stage he committed to an illegal war with Iraq with troops that was under funded and under equiped for the task. While this war was going on New Labour(MOD) was looking at reductions of our forces.
To fund the Armed forces to a good level the funding should be at least 4.5% GNP, in other words double. Welfare spending should be cut and foriegn workers/immigrants should not be able to claim welfare unless they have paid into the system for at least 1 year.
The MOD should not sell off any more land or assets, with accommodation up graded to a modern living standard. Once this has been achieved, our troops in germany should be withdrawn to a home garrison. There is no need for our troops to occupy any part of Germany. (The cold war is over.) The withdrawal of these troops will save £100's millions per annum.
When commisar Brown and his marxists have been removed from office we should see things improve.

• Posted by: Jacko • Report Comment

NIMUE

23.11.07, 12:22pm

There is a party that is listening but it needs the support of good people both financially and at the ballot box.

People have a choice when they vote but the sheep continue to elect traitorous politicians from the lib/lab/con.

You get what you vote for.

• Posted by: Elgar1857 • Report Comment