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David Cameron accused of U-turn over military covenant David Cameron accused of U-turn over military covenant
(about 1 hour later)
The head of the Royal British Legion has accused Prime Minister David Cameron of reneging on a promise to enshrine the military covenant in law. The Royal British Legion has accused the prime minister of going back on his word to set in law a military covenant between the nation and its troops.
Chris Simpkins said he had performed a U-turn after a pledge to formalise the pact between the nation and its troops was "significantly watered down". The charity's head Chris Simpkins also criticised the "watering down" of other plans to enhance support for troops.
Elsewhere, another charity is warning of low morale in the military because of "attacks" on soldiers' allowances. Last June, David Cameron indicated the covenant - a promise of a duty of care in return for sacrifices made - would be set out in legislation.
Ministers said they were doing all they could to support personnel. Ministers said they were doing all they could to support the armed forces.
In June last year, during a visit to HMS Ark Royal, David Cameron told personnel he wanted to make formal commitments to them on matters like education for military children and care for troops injured on the battlefield. The criticism comes as an organisation representing service personnel and their relatives warns of what it calls a tidal wave of low morale in the Army.
During a visit to HMS Ark Royal last summer, David Cameron told personnel he wanted to make formal commitments to them on matters like education for military children and care for troops injured on the battlefield.
"I want all these things refreshed and renewed and written down in a new military covenant that's written into the law of the land," he said."I want all these things refreshed and renewed and written down in a new military covenant that's written into the law of the land," he said.
But Mr Simpkins told the Times newspaper that the new Armed Forces Bill did not fulfil that promise - and instead, would only require the Ministry of Defence to publish an annual report on the covenant. But Mr Simpkins href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/" >told the Times newspaper that the new Armed Forces Bill did not fulfil that promise - and instead, would only require the Ministry of Defence to publish an annual report on the covenant.
"It sounds like a U-turn to me," he said."It sounds like a U-turn to me," he said.
Mr Simpkins, who will give evidence to the Armed Forces Bill Select Committee on Wednesday, also said the draft legislation reduced the role of an external body whose job it was to monitor the implementation of the covenant.Mr Simpkins, who will give evidence to the Armed Forces Bill Select Committee on Wednesday, also said the draft legislation reduced the role of an external body whose job it was to monitor the implementation of the covenant.
"The proposals have been significantly watered down to a point where we can't entirely support them," he added."The proposals have been significantly watered down to a point where we can't entirely support them," he added.
'Backs to the wall''Backs to the wall'
Meanwhile, another charity, the Army Families Federation (AFF), says it has been inundated with outraged messages following a tightening of the rules on continuity of education allowance (CEA).Meanwhile, another charity, the Army Families Federation (AFF), says it has been inundated with outraged messages following a tightening of the rules on continuity of education allowance (CEA).
The CEA enables military families, who are often on the move, to claim boarding school fees of up to £5,833 per child per term, but the rules on who can apply have been changed.The CEA enables military families, who are often on the move, to claim boarding school fees of up to £5,833 per child per term, but the rules on who can apply have been changed.
It is claimed by 5,500 military personnel, fewer than 3% of total service personnel, costing the MoD £180m a year. The government says the changes in the system would save £20m a year.It is claimed by 5,500 military personnel, fewer than 3% of total service personnel, costing the MoD £180m a year. The government says the changes in the system would save £20m a year.
But the AFF says it has received e-mails from soldiers expressing a sense of betrayal.But the AFF says it has received e-mails from soldiers expressing a sense of betrayal.
One read: "People have their backs to the wall and have no way of defending themselves. Pay freeze, loss of Child Benefit, tax increases, cost of living increases, the continual pressure of contemporary military life, allowance cuts, changes to CEA entitlement (or worse); when will it end?One read: "People have their backs to the wall and have no way of defending themselves. Pay freeze, loss of Child Benefit, tax increases, cost of living increases, the continual pressure of contemporary military life, allowance cuts, changes to CEA entitlement (or worse); when will it end?
"The government has directed that the armed services will be cut. They need to be made aware that they may end up with no armed service left at all!""The government has directed that the armed services will be cut. They need to be made aware that they may end up with no armed service left at all!"
Catherine Spencer, from the AFF, said: "I think army personnel do feel betrayed. And secondly, they feel like they might leave the Army.Catherine Spencer, from the AFF, said: "I think army personnel do feel betrayed. And secondly, they feel like they might leave the Army.
"It's becoming unaffordable for them to stay in the Army, but there's also a sense of feeling undervalued because of these cuts, as if the last 10 years they have given in Iraq and Afghanistan has been forgotten and the work they have done has been undermined.""It's becoming unaffordable for them to stay in the Army, but there's also a sense of feeling undervalued because of these cuts, as if the last 10 years they have given in Iraq and Afghanistan has been forgotten and the work they have done has been undermined."
'Economic mess''Economic mess'
The government points to a recent rise in the operational allowance for those on the front line, but also says it is having to make savings right across the board.The government points to a recent rise in the operational allowance for those on the front line, but also says it is having to make savings right across the board.
Minister for Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans Andrew Robathan said: "We are doing everything we can to ensure that the support we provide to them is focused on the most important areas, given the current financial situation.Minister for Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans Andrew Robathan said: "We are doing everything we can to ensure that the support we provide to them is focused on the most important areas, given the current financial situation.
"Changes that we have made, for example raising the operational allowance and increasing support to deal with mental health illness, show how we are focusing on the biggest issues."Changes that we have made, for example raising the operational allowance and increasing support to deal with mental health illness, show how we are focusing on the biggest issues.
"But the fact remains that we have inherited an economic mess from Labour and tough decisions have had to be made.""But the fact remains that we have inherited an economic mess from Labour and tough decisions have had to be made."
Meanwhile, the British Legion has also called on the MoD to hand over personal details of soldiers leaving the forces so that they can be helped into civilian life.Meanwhile, the British Legion has also called on the MoD to hand over personal details of soldiers leaving the forces so that they can be helped into civilian life.
Director of welfare Sue Freeth said with the right details, they could prevent vulnerable former soldiers from falling into lives of crime, drug and alcohol abuse. The MoD said it had to respect privacy.Director of welfare Sue Freeth said with the right details, they could prevent vulnerable former soldiers from falling into lives of crime, drug and alcohol abuse. The MoD said it had to respect privacy.
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