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/8553316.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| PM visits soldiers in Afghanistan | PM visits soldiers in Afghanistan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The prime minister has visited British troops in Afghanistan as a row grows over his evidence to the Iraq inquiry. | The prime minister has visited British troops in Afghanistan as a row grows over his evidence to the Iraq inquiry. |
| Gordon Brown's aides told the BBC he rejected criticism from two former Army chiefs that as chancellor he denied pleas to send more equipment to Iraq. | Gordon Brown's aides told the BBC he rejected criticism from two former Army chiefs that as chancellor he denied pleas to send more equipment to Iraq. |
| No 10 also fiercely denied Conservative claims Mr Brown was using the visit to divert attention away from the row. | No 10 also fiercely denied Conservative claims Mr Brown was using the visit to divert attention away from the row. |
| During his visit the PM promised 2,000 more metal detectors and announced plans for a new light patrol vehicle. | During his visit the PM promised 2,000 more metal detectors and announced plans for a new light patrol vehicle. |
| 'Extremely cynical' | 'Extremely cynical' |
| Senior officers also told the prime minister the military phase of their current campaign in Afghanistan had been largely successful. | |
| He cannot get away with saying 'I gave them everything they asked for'. That is simply disingenuous Lord Guthrie Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timeline Iraq war was 'right', says Brown Long-haul battle for Afghanistan | He cannot get away with saying 'I gave them everything they asked for'. That is simply disingenuous Lord Guthrie Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timeline Iraq war was 'right', says Brown Long-haul battle for Afghanistan |
| The visit took place as two former defence chiefs took issue with Mr Brown's evidence to the Iraq inquiry on Friday, in which he said military leaders overseeing the Iraq war were given everything they asked for. | |
| Lord Guthrie, ex-chief of the defence staff, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that armed forces had been denied a request for more helicopters. | Lord Guthrie, ex-chief of the defence staff, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that armed forces had been denied a request for more helicopters. |
| And his successor, Lord Boyce, told the Times Mr Brown had been "disingenuous" about funding policy. | And his successor, Lord Boyce, told the Times Mr Brown had been "disingenuous" about funding policy. |
| On Friday Mr Brown told the Iraq inquiry UK forces had been given all the equipment they had asked for. | On Friday Mr Brown told the Iraq inquiry UK forces had been given all the equipment they had asked for. |
| He told the panel: "At any point, commanders were able to ask for equipment that they needed and I know of no occasion when they were turned down." | He told the panel: "At any point, commanders were able to ask for equipment that they needed and I know of no occasion when they were turned down." |
| Gordon Brown told troops he would do everything he could to support them | Gordon Brown told troops he would do everything he could to support them |
| On Saturday, he also rejected Tory criticisms the visit might deflect attention away from other matters, saying he had planned the trip to Helmand province for some time. | |
| But shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said Mr Brown had form on "using our armed forces as a political backdrop". | But shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said Mr Brown had form on "using our armed forces as a political backdrop". |
| He told the BBC: "To do it the day after he goes to the Chilcot inquiry when two former chiefs of the defence staff are accusing him of not telling the whole truth about the funding of the armed forces, I think is extremely cynical." | He told the BBC: "To do it the day after he goes to the Chilcot inquiry when two former chiefs of the defence staff are accusing him of not telling the whole truth about the funding of the armed forces, I think is extremely cynical." |
| Another former defence chief and Conservative adviser, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Brown may have been "narrowly and precisely correct" on his evidence on military spending, but had not addressed the issue of "underlying underfunding". | Another former defence chief and Conservative adviser, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Brown may have been "narrowly and precisely correct" on his evidence on military spending, but had not addressed the issue of "underlying underfunding". |
| At any point, commanders were able to ask for equipment that they needed Prime Minister Gordon Brown Full story: Brown grilled Robinson: Brown vs Blair Brown: The unasked questions | At any point, commanders were able to ask for equipment that they needed Prime Minister Gordon Brown Full story: Brown grilled Robinson: Brown vs Blair Brown: The unasked questions |
| During his flying visit to southern Afghanistan, Mr Brown told troops: "We will do everything we can to support you with the equipment necessary and the resources you need." | During his flying visit to southern Afghanistan, Mr Brown told troops: "We will do everything we can to support you with the equipment necessary and the resources you need." |
| He pledged new military vehicles to replace the controversial Snatch Land Rovers, which are vulnerable to attacks using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). | He pledged new military vehicles to replace the controversial Snatch Land Rovers, which are vulnerable to attacks using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). |
| Mr Brown said early gains in Operation Moshtarak - the campaign to push the Taliban out of central Helmand - offered a "beacon of hope" to the Afghan people. | Mr Brown said early gains in Operation Moshtarak - the campaign to push the Taliban out of central Helmand - offered a "beacon of hope" to the Afghan people. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| He thanked The First Battalion The Royal Welsh for capturing the town of Shawal as part of the operation. | He thanked The First Battalion The Royal Welsh for capturing the town of Shawal as part of the operation. |
| Lord Guthrie, who led the armed forces from 1997 to 2001, wrote in the Telegraph the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had "received the bare minimum from the chancellor, who wanted to give the military as little as he could get away with". | Lord Guthrie, who led the armed forces from 1997 to 2001, wrote in the Telegraph the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had "received the bare minimum from the chancellor, who wanted to give the military as little as he could get away with". |
| He said: "He cannot get away with saying 'I gave them everything they asked for'. That is simply disingenuous." | He said: "He cannot get away with saying 'I gave them everything they asked for'. That is simply disingenuous." |
| Lord Boyce, who was chief of the Defence Staff up to the beginning of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, added: "[Gordon Brown] is dissembling, he's being disingenuous. It's just not the case that the Ministry of Defence was given everything it needed". | Lord Boyce, who was chief of the Defence Staff up to the beginning of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, added: "[Gordon Brown] is dissembling, he's being disingenuous. It's just not the case that the Ministry of Defence was given everything it needed". |