This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8298222.stm

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Dannatt explains Cameron approach Ex-Army chief denies Tory 'plot'
(about 4 hours later)
Gen Sir Richard Dannatt accepted a Tory defence role after David Cameron said his team "lacked expert understanding", the former head of the Army has said. The former head of the Army has said he did not accept an advisory role for the Tories as part of a "long term plot".
Gen Dannatt said he was persuaded to become a defence adviser by the urgency of the situation in Afghanistan. Gen Sir Richard Dannatt has been criticised for taking up a role with the Tories so soon after stepping down.
Mr Cameron has said Gen Dannatt might serve in a Conservative government. But in a lecture he said Afghanistan was "critical" and if he had waited another year it could be "too long".
But some senior military officers, who fear politicising the Army at a sensitive time, and politicians have voiced disquiet at the move. He said what motivated him was getting "these issues right in the interests of the nation and... the armed forces and the safety of our citizens".
Many critics believe an apolitical and collective approach is vital on Afghanistan, BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says. Tory leader David Cameron officially announced during his conference speech on Thursday that Gen Dannatt would be advising his defence team and "will join our benches in the House of Lords and if we win the election could serve in a future Conservative government".
There are also worries at the Ministry of Defence about the impact a recently retired chief returning as a minister would have on the relationship between serving commanders and ministers, she says. But the news leaked out a day earlier and was criticised by some as being too soon.
'Critical time' 'Unprecedented'
Against a backdrop of growing criticism, Gen Dannatt is keen to make it clear that his move to accept a peerage and a possible ministerial position in the event of a Tory election victory is not part of a long-term plot, our correspondent adds. While he was still in his post as head of the Army, Gen Dannatt repeatedly called for better equipment for British troops in Afghanistan and has complained that he was smeared by the government for speaking out.
He told an invited audience at the Windsor Leadership Trust on Thursday night that he and Mr Cameron had met only on a few occasions, although he added they had had a couple of substantive discussions over the past 12 to 18 months. Labour peer Lord Foulkes, who criticised the general at the time, questioned how far his links to the Conservative Party went back and said it had been "unprecedented" for a serving officer to speak out publicly.
I wouldn't want to be associated with any one political party Gen Lord GuthrieFormer Chief of the Defence Staff class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8294670.stm">Ex-Army chief 'offered Tory role' Labour's former defence minister Doug Henderson told the BBC that stepping into a political role so quickly "blurs the line between political decisions and military decisions".
He said Mr Cameron rang him a few weeks ago to make his job offer. I think, to be honest, it rather indicates that it wasn't a long-term plot we've been hatching up for a long time Gen DannattFormer head of the Army
Gen Dannatt added: "He put it to me that he was concerned that his defence team - at a time when defence was really important, and Afghanistan was really critical - lacked expert understanding, and would I be prepared to advise his team, and, if the Conservatives win the election, would I be prepared to take a peerage and maybe join his ministerial team." And Gen Lord Guthrie, an ex-chief of the defence staff, urged Gen Dannatt not to take the Conservative whip, telling the Independent newspaper: "If he is going to the House of Lords, it's best to be a crossbencher.
Gen Lord Guthrie, an ex-chief of the defence staff, has urged Gen Dannatt not to take the Conservative whip.
According to the Independent, Gen Guthrie said: "If he is going to the House of Lords, it's best to be a crossbencher.
"I will give advice to anyone, Labour or Conservative, but I wouldn't want to be associated with any one political party.""I will give advice to anyone, Labour or Conservative, but I wouldn't want to be associated with any one political party."
While he was still in post, Gen Dannatt repeatedly called for better equipment for troops in Afghanistan and has since complained that he was smeared by the government for speaking out about resources. Speaking in a lecture to the Windsor Leadership Trust on Thursday, Gen Dannatt said he did not know Mr Cameron very well, but had met him on a few occasions - including a couple of substantive discussions over the past 12 to 18 months.
Labour peer Lord Foulkes said it was "unprecedented" for a serving officer to have spoken out publicly in the way Gen Dannatt did. He said Mr Cameron rang him a few weeks ago to make his job offer.
Gen Dannatt added: "He put it to me that he was concerned that his defence team - at a time when defence was really important, and Afghanistan was really critical - lacked expert understanding, and would I be prepared to advise his team?
"And, if the Conservatives win the election, would I be prepared to take a peerage and maybe join his ministerial team?"
Turbulent times
He added: "As with all things in life, it leaked out a little bit early. But that's how I come to be going to do what I might be doing and I think, to be honest, it rather indicates that it wasn't a long term plot we've been hatching up for a long time."
Asked why he did not wait longer to start, he said what motivated him was getting "these issues right" in the interests of the nation and armed forces.
"The trouble is in turbulent times, time is not on your side, and the operation in Afghanistan is really critical, we've got to get it right," he said.
"The mission in Afghanistan is really critical, we will succeed, we must succeed, it's got to be properly resourced, and frankly if I'd waited an elegant year, that could be a little bit too long."
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said some of his critics believed a non-political approach was vital on Afghanistan and there were worries at the Ministry of Defence about the impact a recently retired chief returning as a minister would have on the relationship between serving commanders and ministers.