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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ministers hit back in troops row | Ministers hit back in troops row |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ministers have hit back after Gordon Brown and the government came under attack from former military top brass over the treatment of UK armed forces. | Ministers have hit back after Gordon Brown and the government came under attack from former military top brass over the treatment of UK armed forces. |
| Five former chiefs of the defence staff warned of "blood on the floor" at the MoD because of inadequate funding. | Five former chiefs of the defence staff warned of "blood on the floor" at the MoD because of inadequate funding. |
| Admiral Lord Boyce said the prime minister had treated the armed services with "contempt" and "disinterest". | Admiral Lord Boyce said the prime minister had treated the armed services with "contempt" and "disinterest". |
| Defence Minister Derek Twigg said there had been the longest period of growth in defence spending since the 1980s. | Defence Minister Derek Twigg said there had been the longest period of growth in defence spending since the 1980s. |
| Mr Twigg told the BBC that the government was absolutely committed to the armed forces. | Mr Twigg told the BBC that the government was absolutely committed to the armed forces. |
| The next spending round would see an increase of £7.7bn for defence, he added. | The next spending round would see an increase of £7.7bn for defence, he added. |
| 'Lack of judgement' | 'Lack of judgement' |
| The former defence chiefs spoke during a Lords debate, in which there were calls to improve levels of military funding. | The former defence chiefs spoke during a Lords debate, in which there were calls to improve levels of military funding. |
| Admiral Lord Boyce criticised a decision to give Des Browne the jobs of both defence secretary and Scottish secretary. | Admiral Lord Boyce criticised a decision to give Des Browne the jobs of both defence secretary and Scottish secretary. |
| Lord Boyce said: "It is seen as an insult by our sailors, our soldiers and our airmen on the front line. | Lord Boyce said: "It is seen as an insult by our sailors, our soldiers and our airmen on the front line. |
| "It is certainly a demonstration of the disinterest and some might say contempt that the prime minister and his government has for our armed forces. | |
| "And it shows an appalling lack of judgement at a time when our people are being killed and they are being maimed." | "And it shows an appalling lack of judgement at a time when our people are being killed and they are being maimed." |
| 'Great insensitivity' | |
| Speaking later to BBC News 24, Admiral Lord Boyce said the military was also chronically underfunded. | |
| He said: "The money that defence was given for its budget is not sufficient to meet the level of activities that the armed forces are currently engaged in. | |
| "If you start back, say 10 years ago, from the strategic defence review that itself was underfunded...since then the gap has not been closed." | |
| General Lord Guthrie blamed the prime minister for "the very serious situation we find the services in today". | General Lord Guthrie blamed the prime minister for "the very serious situation we find the services in today". |
| Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig of Radley asked whether it was "immoral to commit forces that are underprepared and ill-equipped for their task?" | Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig of Radley asked whether it was "immoral to commit forces that are underprepared and ill-equipped for their task?" |
| Further criticisms were levelled by Field Marshals Lord Bramall and Lord Inge. | Further criticisms were levelled by Field Marshals Lord Bramall and Lord Inge. |
| Our chiefs of staff are very clear that the confidence is not broken, that the morale is good Defence Minister Derek Twigg They were later joined by Labour former defence minister Lord Gilbert, who said "injudicious actions" by the prime minister had brought criticism on himself. | Our chiefs of staff are very clear that the confidence is not broken, that the morale is good Defence Minister Derek Twigg They were later joined by Labour former defence minister Lord Gilbert, who said "injudicious actions" by the prime minister had brought criticism on himself. |
| Lord Gilbert called Mr Brown's failure to thank troops in the Queen's Speech "quite extraordinary". | Lord Gilbert called Mr Brown's failure to thank troops in the Queen's Speech "quite extraordinary". |
| "I think it showed a great insensitivity not only to the morale of the troops but to their families as well," he told BBC Two's Newsnight programme. | "I think it showed a great insensitivity not only to the morale of the troops but to their families as well," he told BBC Two's Newsnight programme. |
| Mr Twigg insisted that current defence chiefs did not share the concerns of their predecessors. | Mr Twigg insisted that current defence chiefs did not share the concerns of their predecessors. |
| He said: "I talk to our chiefs of staff - I was with them yesterday - and they are very clear that the confidence is not broken, that the morale is good and we are very committed to improving things further." | He said: "I talk to our chiefs of staff - I was with them yesterday - and they are very clear that the confidence is not broken, that the morale is good and we are very committed to improving things further." |
| A source close to Mr Brown criticised the former defence chiefs for speaking out when they knew the prime minister was at the Commonwealth summit in Uganda. | A source close to Mr Brown criticised the former defence chiefs for speaking out when they knew the prime minister was at the Commonwealth summit in Uganda. |
| Fast-track treatment | |
| The source suggested that as former senior public servants they should "know better". | The source suggested that as former senior public servants they should "know better". |
| The Lords' concerted action follows months of concern from organisations such as the Royal British Legion that the UK's armed forces are over-stretched and under-funded for the missions they are being asked to carry out in Iraq and Afghanistan. | The Lords' concerted action follows months of concern from organisations such as the Royal British Legion that the UK's armed forces are over-stretched and under-funded for the missions they are being asked to carry out in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| They point out that during the early 1980s the government spent almost 5% of GDP on defence but today the figure is closer to 2.5%. | They point out that during the early 1980s the government spent almost 5% of GDP on defence but today the figure is closer to 2.5%. |
| Later on Friday the Government will announce a priority health care package for injured soldiers. | |
| Veterans will be given fast-track treatment on the NHS, and special centres will be set up for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. |