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| MPs push for sailor story answers | MPs push for sailor story answers |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Opposition parties say they will continue to press ministers over the decision to allow British sailors freed by Iran to sell their stories. | Opposition parties say they will continue to press ministers over the decision to allow British sailors freed by Iran to sell their stories. |
| That comes despite government attempts to draw a line under the affair. Tony Blair said "in hindsight" the navy's decision was not a "good idea". | |
| The prime minister has also maintained he was not involved in the decision. | |
| Former Army public relations head Lord Ramsbotham said it was unlikely that Downing Street was not kept informed. | |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne is to make a Commons statement on Monday. | Defence Secretary Des Browne is to make a Commons statement on Monday. |
| Mr Browne has said he takes full responsibility for allowing the stories to be sold, while the prime minister has said he was not involved in the decision being made. | Mr Browne has said he takes full responsibility for allowing the stories to be sold, while the prime minister has said he was not involved in the decision being made. |
| I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through Leading Seaman Faye Turney Captive 'felt like a traitor' Stories sale criticism grows Tories slam decision | I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through Leading Seaman Faye Turney Captive 'felt like a traitor' Stories sale criticism grows Tories slam decision |
| Former general Lord Ramsbotham told Radio 4's Today: "One wants to know how the decision taken by the Second Sea Lord... came to be taken and was then merely noted by the secretary of state. | |
| "And what role did number 10's press office play in this? | |
| "My experience is that everything was referred to number 10 of some magnitude like this." | |
| Lord Ramsbotham blamed the "mistake" on a government decision to remove the posts of individual directors of public relations for each of the armed forces three years ago. | |
| "The job of director of public relations was to be the middle man between the media, the public and the military," he said. | |
| "There've been more problems between the military and the media since that decision was taken than I can ever remember." | |
| 'Cheap and tatty' | |
| Earlier, Tory leader David Cameron responded to Mr Browne's comments by saying there should be a full Ministry of Defence inquiry, to allow lessons to be learned. | Earlier, Tory leader David Cameron responded to Mr Browne's comments by saying there should be a full Ministry of Defence inquiry, to allow lessons to be learned. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY These young people have been cynically used by the UK government in its war of words with Iran Terence Phillips, Worcester Send us your comments | |
| He also said there were more questions to be answered about whether the prime minister had any role in the "dreadful decision" to allow the military personnel to sell their stories. | He also said there were more questions to be answered about whether the prime minister had any role in the "dreadful decision" to allow the military personnel to sell their stories. |
| The government's "cheap and tatty" focus on short-term headlines could cause long-term damage to the armed forces, and he said the buck stopped with the prime minister. | The government's "cheap and tatty" focus on short-term headlines could cause long-term damage to the armed forces, and he said the buck stopped with the prime minister. |
| Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne said the armed forces wanted capable and competent leadership, but it had been a "complete mess up". | Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne said the armed forces wanted capable and competent leadership, but it had been a "complete mess up". |
| Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors - and how they likened him to Mr Bean. | Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors - and how they likened him to Mr Bean. |
| And Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Tonight with Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper - reportedly for a six-figure sum, some of which will go to navy families. | And Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Tonight with Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper - reportedly for a six-figure sum, some of which will go to navy families. |
| "I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through," she told ITV's Tonight programme. | "I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through," she told ITV's Tonight programme. |
| The Royal Navy crew were on patrol boats in the Gulf on 23 March when they were detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard - the Iranians said they had strayed into its waters, which the British deny. | The Royal Navy crew were on patrol boats in the Gulf on 23 March when they were detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard - the Iranians said they had strayed into its waters, which the British deny. |