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Aide quits over Afghan strategy Aide quits over Afghan strategy
(30 minutes later)
A ministerial aide to the defence secretary has resigned, criticising the government's strategy in Afghanistan.A ministerial aide to the defence secretary has resigned, criticising the government's strategy in Afghanistan.
Labour MP Eric Joyce said the UK could no longer justify the growing casualty toll in Afghanistan by saying the war would prevent terrorism back home.Labour MP Eric Joyce said the UK could no longer justify the growing casualty toll in Afghanistan by saying the war would prevent terrorism back home.
Mr Joyce, parliamentary private secretary to Bob Ainsworth, also said the government was failing to empathise sufficiently with the military.Mr Joyce, parliamentary private secretary to Bob Ainsworth, also said the government was failing to empathise sufficiently with the military.
Ministers have faced claims that forces are under-equipped but deny this. Mr Ainsworth said he was "fully committed" to UK troops in Afghanistan.
In a statement, Mr Ainsworth said Mr Joyce was entitled to his opinion but he did not "recognise" the picture he painted of the situation in Afghanistan.
'Uncertainty''Uncertainty'
The resignation comes on the day the Ministry of Defence announced the death of another soldier in Afghanistan, taking the number of service personnel killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001 to 212.The resignation comes on the day the Ministry of Defence announced the death of another soldier in Afghanistan, taking the number of service personnel killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001 to 212.
In his resignation letter, Mr Joyce cast doubt on public support for the UK's mission in Afghanistan and the government's justification for the presence of troops there. In his resignation letter, Mr Joyce - MP for Falkirk - questioned public support for the UK's mission in Afghanistan and the government's justification for the presence of troops there.
I do not think the public will accept for much longer that our losses can be justified by simply referring to the risk of greater terrorism on our streets Eric Joyce I do not think the public will accept for much longer that our losses can be justified by simply referring to the risk of greater terrorism on our streets Eric Joyce class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8237092.stm">Full text of resignation letter
He also cast doubt on Labour's ability to win the election unless it got a "grip on defence".
"I do not think the public will accept for much longer that our losses can be justified by simply referring to the risk of greater terrorism on our streets," he said."I do not think the public will accept for much longer that our losses can be justified by simply referring to the risk of greater terrorism on our streets," he said.
"Nor do I think we can continue with the present level of uncertainty about the future of our deployment in Afghanistan.""Nor do I think we can continue with the present level of uncertainty about the future of our deployment in Afghanistan."
Mr Joyce, a former soldier, said the UK must put together an exit strategy for its troops and that personnel numbers should be cut substantially in next Parliament. Mr Joyce, a former soldier, said the UK must put together an exit strategy for its troops and that personnel numbers should be cut substantially in the next Parliament.
He also criticised the contribution of other Nato countries in Afghanistan, adding: "For many, Britain fights, Germany pays, France calculates, Italy avoids." There are currently more than 9,000 troops in Afghanistan.
Mr Joyce also criticised the contribution of other Nato countries in Afghanistan, arguing that the UK "punched a long way above its weight" while "many of our allies do far too little".
"For many, Britain fights, Germany pays, France calculates, Italy avoids," he said.
The political consensus over the Afghan mission has broken down in recent months with opposition parties questioning whether troops are sufficiently equipped to do the job asked of them in fighting the Taliban.
Critics have said they are being hampered by a damaging shortage of helicopters but ministers says army chiefs have all the resources they have requested.
Political priorities
Mr Joyce said the well-being of British troops in Afghanistan needed to be given a "higher political priority".
"Above all, Labour must remember that service folk and their families are our people. We say that we honour them for their risk, bravery and sacrifice and we must, at literally all costs, continue to show that we mean it."
In response, Mr Ainsworth said it was "vital" that those in charge of policy were "fully committed" to the mission in Afghanistan.
The BBC's political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said the resignation - the first from the government over Afghanistan - would be a real blow to Gordon Brown.The BBC's political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said the resignation - the first from the government over Afghanistan - would be a real blow to Gordon Brown.
The Conservatives said the government was failing to put the case for the UK's continued involvement in Afghanistan.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said there was a "great deal of disquiet" on Labour benches about the situation there.