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/8328980.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Brown U-turn on territorial cuts Brown U-turn on territorial cuts
(about 2 hours later)
The prime minister has abandoned plans to impose a £17.5m cut to the training budget of the Territorial Army, Labour MPs have told the BBC. The prime minister has abandoned plans to impose a £17.5m cut to the training budget of the Territorial Army, saying it was the "right thing to do".
The U-turn came after Gordon Brown spoke to former defence secretary John Reid, amid calls from his own party to intervene and reverse the cutbacks.The U-turn came after Gordon Brown spoke to former defence secretary John Reid, amid calls from his own party to intervene and reverse the cutbacks.
Tory leader David Cameron said Mr Brown had been forced into a "humiliating climbdown" by the opposition.Tory leader David Cameron said Mr Brown had been forced into a "humiliating climbdown" by the opposition.
On Monday, the government reduced the scale of the cuts from £20m to £17.5m.On Monday, the government reduced the scale of the cuts from £20m to £17.5m.
It backtracked on plans to suspend all routine TA training for six months and offered a compromise of one night's training each month for personnel not due to be deployed to Afghanistan.It backtracked on plans to suspend all routine TA training for six months and offered a compromise of one night's training each month for personnel not due to be deployed to Afghanistan.
Training cutbacksTraining cutbacks
It is now understood the TA training budget will remain untouched, meaning most units will continue to train one night a week, as well as one weekend a month. The training cutbacks were approved by military chiefs earlier this year to ensure resources were prioritised for the regular army. But Mr Brown told MPs that he had now decided that the TA training budget would remain untouched, meaning most units would continue to train one night a week, as well as one weekend a month.
TA FACTS The TA is made up of volunteers who commit their spare time to training as soldiers and working with the regular army. It is divided into independent units who recruit locally and national units who recruit across the UK. All TA soldiers who are mobilised have their civilian jobs legally protectedTA FACTS The TA is made up of volunteers who commit their spare time to training as soldiers and working with the regular army. It is divided into independent units who recruit locally and national units who recruit across the UK. All TA soldiers who are mobilised have their civilian jobs legally protected
The issue has been raised at the last two prime minister's questions - including by Conservative leader David Cameron himself at last week's sessions. The issue has been raised at the last two prime minister's questions - including by Conservative leader David Cameron himself at last week's session.
At PMQs on Wednesday Mr Cameron said he welcomed "the government's complete U-turn" on cutting the money from the TA, something he said had been brought about by questions from him, Conservative and Labour MPs. At PMQs on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said he welcomed "the government's complete U-turn" on cutting the money from the TA, something he said had been brought about by questions from him, Conservative and Labour MPs.
But Mr Brown said the Tory leader was "wrong" to suggest he was not supporting defence as an extra £1bn had been spent on Afghanistan and £1bn more on defence. But Mr Brown said the Tory leader was "wrong" to suggest he was not supporting defence as an extra £1bn had been spent on the Afghan mission and a further £1bn on defence.
"Having looked at all the issues ... I decided it was the right thing to do," Mr Brown said. "Having looked at all the issues ... I decided it was the right thing to do," Mr Brown said of the decision not to proceed with the TA cuts.
Authority 'weakened'Authority 'weakened'
But the Conservative leader said he could not "even be straight forward when he's performing a U-turn". He said the PM kept "getting it wrong". But the Conservative leader said he could not "even be straight forward when he's performing a U-turn" and the PM kept "getting it wrong".
In previous weeks Mr Brown argued those heading to Afghanistan would get the training required and said the cuts were because army chiefs wanted to focus on the regular Amy.In previous weeks Mr Brown argued those heading to Afghanistan would get the training required and said the cuts were because army chiefs wanted to focus on the regular Amy.
It should never have been on the agenda Simon HughesLib Dems
But with a Conservative debate on the issue due on Wednesday afternoon, and nearly a dozen Labour MPs criticising the decision, Mr Brown changed his mind.But with a Conservative debate on the issue due on Wednesday afternoon, and nearly a dozen Labour MPs criticising the decision, Mr Brown changed his mind.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Labour MPs were willing to take Mr Brown on because his authority had been "gravely weakened" by his handling of the expenses scandal. He said the PM had been forced into a "complete U-turn" over the TA. Former defence secretary John Reid and former defence aide Eric Joyce - who resigned last month over concerns over military policy - were among Labour backbenchers concerned about the possible impact of reduced training on recruitment and retention of territorials.
It was a shocking error of judgment for the government to have contemplated this cut in the first place Nick HarveyLib Dems Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle had urged Mr Brown to intervene personally in the dispute, likening it to the situation earlier this year over the Gurkhas when the government was embarrassingly defeated in a Commons vote.
Mr Reid and former defence aide Eric Joyce - who resigned last month over concerns over military policy - were said to be among those expressing concern about the possible impact on recruitment and retention of territorials. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Labour MPs were willing to take Mr Brown on because his authority had been "gravely weakened" by his handling of the expenses scandal.
Mr Joyce told the BBC Mr Brown had made the "right decision" and it was to his credit that he had acted so quickly. Credit due
He conceded that the cuts would have to be found from elsewhere but told the BBC it was a "relatively small" amount of money. But Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said the prime minister should be applauded for acting on the concerns of MPs.
He said: "Ultimately it's procurement which will produce the kind of savings we'll need... to keep the right amount of operational capacity on the ground, particularly in Afghanistan." "When governments do take the right decision, why not give them credit for doing the right thing?" he told the World at One.
Mr Reid told the BBC he was "absolutely delighted" Mr Brown had "listened to those of us who said it was a wrong thing to do". "The government has done the right thing by the TA and by those who are serving abroad...We have restored the funding. TA officers will get the full training they received before and I think that is the right thing."
Earlier, another Labour MP, Lindsay Hoyle, called on Mr Brown to intervene due to the scale of opposition. For the Lib Dems, Simon Hughes said the decision to cut TA training in the first place was "completely bizarre".
He also likened the situation to that of the Gurkhas, on which the government had to do a U-turn after it lost a Commons vote on their settlement rights in April. "It should never have been on the agenda," he said.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "The state of the TA is much too important to be used as a political football in this way. "All the argument about our troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere is that they have not been given the basic kit and training."
"It was a shocking error of judgment for the government to have contemplated this cut in the first place."