Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage - New Forces Sweetheart?

The Armed Forces could have found themselves a new Sweetheart in the form of Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage. During yesterday’s debate on Defence, Caroline won a great victory for the men and women who put their lives on the line for our country:

Caroline wins concession for the military
In an uncompromising defence of the Armed Forces and the Royal Navy in particular during yesterday’s debate on Defence, MP for Gosport Caroline Dinenage wrung out a vital concession from Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Nick Harvey MP and which will bring accolades from tens of thousands of servicemen and their families all over Britain.

During a six month deployment to a war zone, a serviceman is entitled to two weeks rest and recreation (R&R) leave back in UK. It is a vital time to re-charge batteries – for both the serviceman and his family. For British servicemen, unlike every other country with deployed forces, the 14 days of leave starts and finishes in the country of operations (e.g. for US forces the clock starts ticking on arrival on US soil, whereas for British servicemen it is in Afghanistan). Often using ancient trooping aircraft subject to frequent breakdown and sometimes being delayed by the vagaries of helicopter availability, the journey home usually takes 3 days – and then 3 days back again. And if there is further delay the now 8 days leave is reduced yet further. In her speech, which had wide cross party support, Caroline said “It is therefore essential that the ‘R & R clock’ starts from when the person arrives back in the UK in order to allow maximum time for the unseen wounds of stress to be in some way healed prior to returning to the front line”.

Responding to her strong message the Minister replied; “Similarly, my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Caroline Dinenage) raised the issue of rest and relaxation and the fact that it ought to begin from the moment people get back home. I entirely agree that that is the most desirable way of doing it, and if in particular circumstances it proves, for operational reasons, not to be possible, we have guaranteed that we will add it on at the end, when people get back. That is a sub-optimal solution, but it may on occasions be necessary, for operational reasons, to handle it that way, and we will ensure at any rate that people do not lose out. My hon. Friend made a good point.

A senior officer was heard to comment after her speech “that there have been numerous attempts to correct this iniquitous state of affairs. Now it appears that a new ‘Forces Sweetheart’ has achieved it!”

I've had the privilege of helping Caroline during her election campaign and I can tell you that I have never met anyone with so much drive and enthusiasm. I'm sure that Gosport can only get better with Caroline representing us.

Our Troops, Fighting for democracy - yet unable to vote?

Angry is not the bloody word! As an ex-serviceman I cannot believe for one minute that it is not possible for every single one of our service men and women to vote if they so wish. We could fly out postal vote forms to them tomorrow - they could be returned within a week. That this has not been seen as a priority is an absolute sodding disgrace.

From the Times online:

Electoral law stipulates that postal votes cannot be issued until the close of nominations 11 days before election date. They must be returned to constituencies by the close of polling to be valid.

So what? Gordon Brown can fly out to Afghanistan and back in no time when he needs to cynically use our troops as a photo op backdrop. 11 Days is more than enough time to get the electoral vote forms out to the troops and back to their respective constituencies. Andrew Murrison, a shadow defence minister, said:

“The blame for the collapse in the number of service personnel registered to vote can be put at the government’s door.

“It is bizarre and wrong that soldiers who have put their lives on the line for Afghan democracy are left without a vote in their own homeland.”

Another Conservative MP, who has a large garrison town in his constituency, said: “Labour has made it harder and harder for soldiers to vote. It may be incompetence, but it could be knavery.”

It becomes clear why Labour are not sorting the mess out when you look at the results of a recent poll carried out by the British Army Rumour Service website found that 57% would vote Tory, and only 7% would vote Labour.

If our Labour government have no intention of helping our Armed Forces vote, then the service heads need to get this sorted - and bloody quick.

Andy McNab: Who Dares, Wins - Gordon Brown: Who Lies, Spins.

Former SAS Hero, Andy McNab, has come out in support of the Conservative Party. A former Labour supporter, Andy has turned his back on Gordon Brown and Labour after the PM lied to the Chilcot enquiry - only to then fly straight out to Afghanistan for a photo-op with our troops.

Andy told The Sun:

"For Gordon Brown to go to the Iraq inquiry and tell porkies was outrageous.

"How little he has given the MoD to help them fight five wars in 13 years is VERY clearly on record.

"To then go straight out to Helmand province in Afghanistan - as he did - and pose for photos with the troops to look like the Forces' friend was unforgivable. That was the last straw for me.

"It was a cynical PR attempt to bury bad headlines. Anyone who uses our soldiers on the front line like that deserves nobody's respect.

"It is a betrayal of everything honourable they stand for."

"After the way Gordon Brown betrayed the Forces, there's not a single person I've spoken to from my old regiment who's voting any other way than Conservative.

"Cameron's got the SAS vote - that's for sure."

The war hero sounded a call to arms - warning Britain: "How you vote at this election is going to affect soldiers' lives."

Liam Fox: Gordon Brown must be recalled to Chilcot Inquiry

Calling for Gordon Brown to be recalled to clarify his evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry, Shadow Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said:

"Today I have written to Sir John Chilcot to ask that Gordon Brown is recalled to the inquiry to clarify his evidence. There have been so many other witnesses whose evidence directly contradicted his, concluding with Bill Jeffrey today, that there is a clear case for questioning Gordon Brown again.”

Here is the text of the letter sent to Sir John:

‘Since Gordon Brown’s session last Friday (5 March 2010) two former Chiefs of the Defence Staff (Admiral Lord Boyce and General Lord Guthrie) and a former Chief of the General Staff ( General Sir Richard Dannatt), all highly respected men of great integrity, have made public statements completely contrary to, and directly challenging, what Gordon Brown said during his session regarding resourcing and equipping our Armed Forces.

‘There is a strong case for you to recall Gordon Brown for further testimony in front of your inquiry after the upcoming General Election.

‘I fully understand why you do not want your inquiry to be involved with party politics but I do think that it is important to get the truth in this matter even if this cannot happen until after the election.’

What are the chances of the lying sod being dragged back to Chilcot before the election? If Gordon the liar Brown has anything to do with it, I would say the chances are zero.

Anjem Choudary's protest march in Wootton Bassett

In the last few day's we have all heard about Anjem Choudary's planned protest march in Wootton Bassett. Is this really the best way for "the religion of peace" to get it's point across about British intervention in Afghanistan? It could be argued that because of the sensitive nature of the town that the message will get greater media coverage. As an ex-serviceman and I find this manipulation of public sentiment deeply offensive.

Anjem Choudary's argument is a political one, whereas Wootton Bassett is not a place of politics, it is a place where we honour our returning dead. Choudary is intent on using this place of respect as a political vehicle. I believe that Choudary has the right to say anything he likes as long as it is within the law of this land. I also believe he has the right to protest, but I do not think he should be allowed to protest in a place where we show respect to our fallen. It is a distasteful and ill-thought plan which will only incite hatred.

Choudary has written a open letter to families of British soldiers in Afghanistan in an attempt to explain his plan to protest on the streets of Wootton Bassett. What stood out to me from his letter was the opening line: "May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon those who follow the guidance." Wouldn't a better message be "peace and goodwill to all men"? In this country, Christians are brought up to respect the beliefs of others (our children are even taught about other religions in school), but it seems increasingly obvious that some of those others do not respect our beliefs.

Choudary should have his march, but in a political area such as Westminster, not in Wootton Bassett. I hope he reconsiders, because only a truly stupid man would be unaware that the current plan would only damage interfaith goodwill. If he goes ahead with the Wootton Bassett march - then he must be doing so with the intention of making a political statement - no matter what social damage results.

To Anjem Choudary I say this: Peace and goodwill to you and all men. Please reconsider.

Disgusting hate of our soldiers returning to Luton from Iraq.

Click to enlarge.

This disgusting piece of trash was sent to me by Sue of the Muffled Vociferation blog. It was pushed through her friend's letter box in Luton. Is this really the country we are living in? I don't normally get involved with stories about Muslims as I think there are far too many raving loonies going over the top about them. However, on this occasion I think that something needs to be done. I would like to believe that this leaflet does not represent the vast majority of decent Muslims living in Luton.

UPDATE: Around 20 Islamic protesters hurled abuse at the soldiers as they marched through Luton. Full story HERE

Army officer arrested for leaking Afghan civilian casualty figures.

This sounds to me very much like the Damian Green affair. What Lt Col Owen McNally has allegedly leaked is not so much damaging to our efforts in Afghanistan as it is embarrassing to the US/UK governments. McNally, 48, was arrested under suspicion of breaching the Official Secrets Act.

From the Telegraph:

If charged, the officer will appear at the Old Bailey in London, which hears all such Official Secrets cases. He faces a maximum sentence of 14 years if convicted. Lt Col McNally joined the Army as a private in 1977 and worked his way up through the ranks before being commissioned as an officer in 1995. He is thought to be one of the Army's most senior former non-commissioned officers.

A senior officer told the Sun of Lt Col McNally's case: "This is deeply embarrassing for the British Army and completely unprecedented. In mitigation, there is no suggestion that any of the figures were being leaked to the Taliban."

I think this could turn out to be another bloody fiasco.

Our Armed Forces - Respect costs nothing.

Keith, a reader of my blog asked if I would post this video. It concerns our servicemen and women and is very poignant. Warning, it is quite graphic.

Gordon Brown - More faces than Big Ben's clock tower. (Troop withdrawal from Iraq)

Speaking from Iraq today, Gordon Brown said: "It is certainly our intention that we reduce troop numbers, but I am not going to give an artificial timetable at the moment."

Since when did it become Brown's policy not to give an artificial timetable?

In 2007 at a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad, Brown said: ''By Christmas, 1,000 of our troops can be brought back to the U.K. They have acted with great courage and bravery.'' As we learned shortly afterwards, Brown's statement was about as artificial as it gets.

I think Liam Fox described the situation quite well:

"Does this man have no shame? Once you read the small print you realise we are back to the same old spin. Five hundred of these troops have already been announced and 270 are back in the UK. "This is a cynical exploitation of our Armed Forces by a prime minister who puts the Labour Party's interests before the national interest."

As Iain Dale points out, Brown doesn't want to give an artificial timetable because: "there's not an election in the offing now, is there?"

Scotland - How to treat injured veterans - Free Buses.

Yet again the Scottish Government comes up with a policy which England should have taken the lead on:

From New.Scotsman.com:

Soldiers hurt in battle go free on buses

INJURED forces veterans are to be given free bus travel throughout Scotland, the Scottish Government announced today. The move comes as a proposed extension of the concessionary fares scheme for elderly and disabled people. Finance Secretary John Swinney published the terms for the review of the scheme, but said there would be no change to the eligibility criteria for those who currently benefit from the scheme. He said the review, set in train by the previous Scottish Executive, would assess how the scheme has been operating since its introduction in April 2006, and look at ways to improve the scheme.

Mr Swinney said: "The concessionary fares scheme has been a widespread success, bringing free travel to elderly and disabled people across Scotland."We now want to look at how the scheme can be improved even further. For example, I want to ensure that eligibility is extended so that injured veterans in Scotland are able to benefit from free bus travel."

I hope this policy is taken up by Westminster.

Teachers vote to keep Army "Propaganda" out of School.

Paul McGarr, a teacher from east London, is in my opinion, a tw*t. Speaking at the National Union of Teachers conference, this is what he believes Army recruiting materials handed out to school kids should say:

"Join the Army and we will send you to carry out the imperialist occupation of other people's countries".

"Join the Army and we will send you to bomb, shoot and possibly torture fellow human beings in other countries.

"Join the Army and we will send you probably poorly equipped into situations where people will try to shoot or kill you because you are occupying other people's countries.

"Join the Army, and if you survive and come home, possibly injured or mentally damaged, you and your family will be shabbily treated."

I can agree with the last one, the first three however are typical simpering from an ar*ehole who would not be able to spew out such crap if we did not have a martial tradition in this country.

Give OUR Gurkhas British citizenship petition.

Last year I posted several times on the subject of our Gurkhas and the appalling treatment handed out to them by the British Government. It started with the pitiful story of the government's refusal to allow VC hero Tul Bahadur Pun to come to Britain for desperately needed health care. Eventually Mr Pun was allowed to come to Britain, but only after massive pressure from the general public.

In March last year I posted the following:

The Ministry of Defence is to pay ex-Gurkhas the same pensions as British soldiers. Ex-Gurkhas Currently receive just a sixth of the average army pension (£984 a year) and many ex-Gurkhas say they are left destitute. The new pension deal will not apply to Nepalese soldiers who retired before July 1997, leaving many disappointed. Padam Bahadur Gurung, President of the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation, said: "This is good news for serving Gurkhas, but not for the Gurkhas who fought in the Second World War and the Falklands. "There are currently about 3,500 Gurkhas serving in the Army and close to 20,000 former soldiers living in Britain and Nepal.

Every single day in this country 2,000 immigrants are given national insurance numbers.

Later came this story:

Yet another Gurkha hero, L/Cpl Gyanendra Rai, has been denied entry to Britain because he: "did not have strong ties to the UK". L/Cpl Rai was badly wounded during the Falklands War and discharged from the service on medical grounds. Members of the British Armed Forces receive a tax free medical pension if they have to leave the service on medical grounds. L/Cpl Rai served in the British Army but does not get a medical pension because he is a Gurkha. In fact he doesn't even receive a basic pension because he only served 13 years of the 15 required to qualify for the one sixth of a basic Army pension that Gurkhas receive.

During this week's PMQs Nick Clegg asked Brown: "Can you explain to the Gurkhas why on earth you believe that Gurkhas who served in the Army after 1997 are worthy of British citizenship but those who served before that date should be deported?".

Gordon replied: "Now why is the date 1997? It's the date that the Gurkhas - once based in Hong Kong - moved to be based in Britain. "And that's why we are honouring the promises we made for the period after 1997."

What a total and utter load of rubbish. Prior to the 1997 Handover of Hong Kong to China, the region was a Crown Colony, and those Gurkhas based there were serving in the British Army.

It is well beyond time to recognise loyal service to Britain, with equally loyal treatment of those who have served.

There is a petition asking the Prime Minister to give all Ex Gurkha soldiers and their families who have served our country British citizenship on leaving the service.

To sign the petition click HERE.

Elvis lives - British Army in Afghanistan Video.

This is a cracking video. It shows the kind of spirit shown by our army in situations many of us would find unbearable. (27 CS Regt, 7 CS SQN RLC, OP HERRICK)



Hit tip Theo Spark

Gordon Brown escapes attack on Iraq visit.

According to news sources coming out of Iraq, Gordon Brown escaped several "very determined" attempts on his life during his recent visit to Iraq. It is reported that the Prime Minister came under attack from small arms fire, rockets and mortars. An MOD spokesman said that the PM was extremely lucky to survive such a vicious and sustained assault.

The five former defence chiefs who criticised Gordon Brown over his funding of our Armed Forces, and his appointment of two jobs Browne issued the following statement:

"The fact that Gordon Brown has escaped Iraq unscathed only reinforces our opinion that the weapons issued to British forces fighting in Iraq are not fit for purpose."

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Wounded servicemen are hounded out of swimming pool.

Has our once great country sunk so low? I don't think that I have ever been so angry in my whole life. Read this and weep for your lost country!

I know that I used this quote in an earlier post, but I think it sums up this story:

'The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war,no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation'' --George Washington--

General Lord Guthrie - Our defence has been underfunded for years.

I've just had the pleasure of reading General Lord Guthrie's excellent article on the Telegraph website. The article is entitled: "Our defence has been underfunded for years." Lord Guthrie makes it very clear that unless funding is immediately increased to our Armed Forces, we could see them seriously damaged for some time to come. Here is a small extract of the Generals article:

Lately, ministers have been boasting about the extra money that has been produced for defence, but whatever has happened, it is woefully inadequate as far as running the Services today is concerned. It is not a matter for self-congratulation.
We find ourselves in a very dangerous world at the moment. Long gone are the days when we could remain safe in our own country, isolated from troubles elsewhere.
If the Government is really serious about defence and security, as the Prime Minister clearly said last week, funding must be properly increased or the Government will seriously damage one of the state's greatest assets beyond quick repair.

You can read the full article by clicking HERE. Please take time to read the comments section, they are as insightful as the article itself.

Why are our Armed Forces nearly 7,000 personnel under-strength?

Figures released today show that the Armed Forces are nearly 7,000 personnel under-strength. The Army alone is under-manned by 3,600. Shadow Defence Minister, Dr Andrew Murrison said: "With troops engaged in two major conflicts these figures are extremely worrying. Labour has broken the military covenant, so more of our trained personnel are leaving, resulting in under-manning and overstretch particularly in key specialist units."Brown and Browne must admit that the Army is too small for the commitments they have entered into."We need a full Defence Review and a full-time Defence Secretary."

As I understand it, the defence budget for 2005/6 was about 2.5 per cent of the GDP (around £32 billion), this compares to 4.4 per cent in 1987/88. That puts the UK's spending on its overstretched armed forces behind that of Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.

A Government spokesman claimed that the defence budget had increased in real terms since 2000. "Real Terms" - what exactly does that mean? well the same spokesman said: "Although the defence budget has declined as a proportion of GDP since the height of the Cold War, the defence budget has actually been increasing in real terms and it is simply that GDP has risen more quickly." What this means to me is that the government has failed to invest in our Armed Forces when the GDP was high. How have we failed to strengthen our forces during a time of plenty (according to Gordon Brown), when they are fighting at a level not seen since the Korean war?

We have less soldiers now than we did back in 1997, the Royal Air Force offensive squadrons have been cut from 16 to 11, and the Navy has lost eight destroyers and six frigates. I was in the Navy and I would not rejoin if they offered to treble my pay. The Armed Forces have become a dangerous place to be right now - not because of the enemies they face, but because of the way they are being treated by their own government. We may still have the best trained troops in the world, but you can't charge tanks on horseback.

Gordon Brown don't mess with the SAS. (Iraq Speech)

I've just finished watching one of the best critiques of a politician's speech that I have ever seen on BBC News 24. Ben, formally of the SAS has just gone into a massive rant about what he calls Brown's spin on the situation in Iraq. He basically rubbished everything Brown had to say and said that Brown was only following American orders. This will be very damaging to Gordon Brown, and I hope the BBC repeat Ben's reaction several times tonight.

Former Itn Political Editor Michael Brunson attacks Gordon Brown.

Former Itn Political Editor Michael Brunson is not at all happy with Gordon Brown. In today's Sunday Mirror he attacks Brown for his "TROOP TRICK":

Gordon Brown's utterly cynical decision to fly to Iraq last week had me spitting tacks. I thought this Prime Minister had turned over a new leaf, staying out of sight until he had something important to say or do. Yet this was spin and news management of the worst kind - a cheap shot to try to steal the Tories' thunder during their conference. When Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly parroted the official line on BBC's Question Time that Gordon needed to inform himself of the situation on the ground ahead of his Commons statement on Iraq tomorrow, she was quite rightly greeted with hoots of derision from the audience and every other one of her fellow panellists, and made to look very stupid. So cut it out, Gordon.

You can read the full story by clicking HERE.

Gordon Brown and the Armed Forces Council Tax Con.

After listening to Gordon Brown spin out the same old policies in his speech today, you will not believe what Iain Dale has dug up. Click HERE.