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Ex-Army head 'misjudged' Tory job Ex-Army head 'misjudged' Tory job
(4 days later)
Ex-Army chief Gen Sir Richard Dannatt has been accused of a "terrifying misjudgement" in agreeing while still in service to be a Tory adviser.Ex-Army chief Gen Sir Richard Dannatt has been accused of a "terrifying misjudgement" in agreeing while still in service to be a Tory adviser.
Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown told BBC Question Time the appointment had broken the convention that the military should be independent of politics.Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown told BBC Question Time the appointment had broken the convention that the military should be independent of politics.
Gen Dannatt said he had only taken the role after standing down as Army chief. Sir Richard said he had only taken the role after standing down as Army chief.
He also said it would take three to five years before UK troops would be able to return from Afghanistan.He also said it would take three to five years before UK troops would be able to return from Afghanistan.
Queen's shillingQueen's shilling
Before his retirement, Gen Dannatt had a fractious relationship with ministers and accused them of smearing him after he said they had ignored requests for extra troops. Before his retirement, Sir Richard had a fractious relationship with ministers and accused them of smearing him after he said they had ignored requests for extra troops.
It takes a lot of time to build peace after war Lord AshdownIt takes a lot of time to build peace after war Lord Ashdown
On Question Time, Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell denied this, and said Tory leader David Cameron's decision to ask the general to advise him was an "error of judgement".On Question Time, Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell denied this, and said Tory leader David Cameron's decision to ask the general to advise him was an "error of judgement".
Lord Ashdown said Gen Dannatt had signed up to the Conservatives while still "taking the Queen's shilling" and had compromised the independence of the military as a result. Lord Ashdown said Sir Richard had signed up to the Conservatives while still "taking the Queen's shilling" and had compromised the independence of the military as a result.
Gen Dannatt denied this, saying that he had only been approached about the role after stepping down as Chief of the General Staff at the end of August. Sir Richard denied this, saying that he had only been approached about the role after stepping down as Chief of the General Staff at the end of August.
He added that he had not given any advice to the Tories until he formally left the Army on 22 November and that he regretted the way the news of his appointment had emerged.He added that he had not given any advice to the Tories until he formally left the Army on 22 November and that he regretted the way the news of his appointment had emerged.
'Tipping points''Tipping points'
On Britain's role in Afghanistan, where 100 British soldiers have been killed this year, Gen Dannatt said UK troops could not leave "until the job was done". On Britain's role in Afghanistan, where 100 British soldiers have been killed this year, Sir Richard said UK troops could not leave "until the job was done".
He said there were two crucial "tipping points" that had to be passed before UK troops could return home.He said there were two crucial "tipping points" that had to be passed before UK troops could return home.
They had to win the "hearts and minds" of the Afghan people so that, when they did leave, the country did not fall under Taliban control.They had to win the "hearts and minds" of the Afghan people so that, when they did leave, the country did not fall under Taliban control.
Secondly, the Afghan army must be trusted to take responsibility for its own security - which he said would take three to five years.Secondly, the Afghan army must be trusted to take responsibility for its own security - which he said would take three to five years.
However, US President Barack Obama, who recently agreed to send an extra 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, has signalled that the first troops will begin to be withdrawn in 2011.However, US President Barack Obama, who recently agreed to send an extra 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, has signalled that the first troops will begin to be withdrawn in 2011.
In agreeing to commit an extra 500 British troops - taking total British numbers to more than 10,000 - Gordon Brown has said setting any sort of timeframe for withdrawal could be dangerous.In agreeing to commit an extra 500 British troops - taking total British numbers to more than 10,000 - Gordon Brown has said setting any sort of timeframe for withdrawal could be dangerous.
Mr Rammell said there was an international consensus behind the troop surge.Mr Rammell said there was an international consensus behind the troop surge.
He said Afghan President Hamid Karzai had to do a "lot more" to convince his own people, as well as international opinion, that he was capable of cleaning up his government and exerting control over greater areas of the country.He said Afghan President Hamid Karzai had to do a "lot more" to convince his own people, as well as international opinion, that he was capable of cleaning up his government and exerting control over greater areas of the country.
And he defended the government's support for the armed forces, saying it had raised army pay "year after year".And he defended the government's support for the armed forces, saying it had raised army pay "year after year".
Lord Ashdown said the UK had to face up to the fact that it would be engaged in Afghanistan for "decades", while stressing that this did not mean troops would be based there indefinitely.Lord Ashdown said the UK had to face up to the fact that it would be engaged in Afghanistan for "decades", while stressing that this did not mean troops would be based there indefinitely.
"It takes a lot of time to build peace after war," he said."It takes a lot of time to build peace after war," he said.