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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ed Miliband visits British troops in Afghanistan | Ed Miliband visits British troops in Afghanistan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ed Miliband has said he would support British military intervention in future conflicts if it was "in the national interest". | Ed Miliband has said he would support British military intervention in future conflicts if it was "in the national interest". |
| On a visit to Afghanistan, the Labour leader said maintaining strong armed forces was "an absolute commitment". | On a visit to Afghanistan, the Labour leader said maintaining strong armed forces was "an absolute commitment". |
| But, he declined to rule out further military spending cuts, saying Labour would "look at strategic needs". | But, he declined to rule out further military spending cuts, saying Labour would "look at strategic needs". |
| He also promised legislation to outlaw discrimination and abuse of British troops at home. | He also promised legislation to outlaw discrimination and abuse of British troops at home. |
| Mr Miliband met British military personnel at Camp Bastion, where they are training members of the Afghan National Army in security operations. | |
| 'Rush to war' | 'Rush to war' |
| Asked if as a Prime Minister he could give the public confidence he would intervene militarily in future conflicts, he replied: "Absolutely, if it's in the national interest." | Asked if as a Prime Minister he could give the public confidence he would intervene militarily in future conflicts, he replied: "Absolutely, if it's in the national interest." |
| He added: "I supported the government's action in Libya; I thought it was the right thing to do. | He added: "I supported the government's action in Libya; I thought it was the right thing to do. |
| "I thought there was a clear humanitarian threat to civilians in Libya and there was a clear strategy for what we could achieve. | "I thought there was a clear humanitarian threat to civilians in Libya and there was a clear strategy for what we could achieve. |
| "Indeed, we did achieve our end of protecting Libyan civilians. | "Indeed, we did achieve our end of protecting Libyan civilians. |
| "In Syria, it would have been a rush to war and it would've been a mistake. | "In Syria, it would have been a rush to war and it would've been a mistake. |
| "That's why we took the position we did. | "That's why we took the position we did. |
| "No two conflicts are the same. We should support action when it's in our national interest, but we should do so always being clear that we have a proper strategy. | "No two conflicts are the same. We should support action when it's in our national interest, but we should do so always being clear that we have a proper strategy. |
| "A clear and worked out strategy, not a rush to war." | "A clear and worked out strategy, not a rush to war." |
| Military covenant | Military covenant |
| Mr Miliband also told BBC News the first Queen's Speech of a Labour government would include legislation to prevent the abuse and discrimination of military personnel at home. | Mr Miliband also told BBC News the first Queen's Speech of a Labour government would include legislation to prevent the abuse and discrimination of military personnel at home. |
| "We know surveys suggest one in five members of our armed forces suffer abuse or are refused access to restaurants, hotels and bars," he said. | "We know surveys suggest one in five members of our armed forces suffer abuse or are refused access to restaurants, hotels and bars," he said. |
| "I don't see why that should happen; I don't think that's what the British people want. | "I don't see why that should happen; I don't think that's what the British people want. |
| "We know the esteem in which our armed forces are held and we should reflect that in legislation. | "We know the esteem in which our armed forces are held and we should reflect that in legislation. |
| "We have a military covenant and this is part of fulfilling that covenant, which is supported by all parties." | "We have a military covenant and this is part of fulfilling that covenant, which is supported by all parties." |
| In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: "The men and women of our armed forces reflect what is best in our society and any discrimination against them is unacceptable. | In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: "The men and women of our armed forces reflect what is best in our society and any discrimination against them is unacceptable. |
| "We have worked hard to ensure our armed forces, veterans and families have the support they need and are treated with the dignity they deserve." | "We have worked hard to ensure our armed forces, veterans and families have the support they need and are treated with the dignity they deserve." |
| One area Mr Miliband could not put a firm commitment on was further cuts in military spending if Labour came to power. | |
| "What I can say is a Labour government would have a comprehensive look at the security and defence needs of the country," he said. | |
| "That's the right thing to do, and of course maintaining a strong armed forces is incredibly important for our country. | |
| "Obviously, the issue of the number of people we have in our armed forces is something we will be looking at as part of our defence review, but we've got to do it in a proper way." |