Lord Warden of Cinque Ports attacks government.
23 November 2007
Admiral Lord Boyce, who I have briefly met myself on a couple of occasions, and who strikes one as a man of the utmost integrity, has attacked the governments position on Defence spending. He was until fairly recently top man in the armed forces, and when he speaks out on such matters it is clearly from a knowledgable position. Along with the other chiefs of staff, five in all, he is appalled at the "contempt" shown by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, for the current economic plight and shortfall of the Armed Forces. It is practically unheard of for such a group of Defence Chiefs to have such a co-ordinated 'go' in such a way...or to put it in military terms, to launch such a devastating broadside at its government.
Listening to him on Radio 4 this morning, he acknowledged that the government had put in more funding but because of the rise in worldwide costs and committments, this extra funding was not keeping abreast of the huge increase in costs. He said the military was chronically underfunded. Gordon Brown has been Chancellor (until recently) for 10 or 12 years, so if indeed there is underfunding then Gordon himself is the man to blame.
The Defence Chiefs are also highly critical of the fact that another Brown..this time Des Brown, is doing 2 jobs in government. This is where the "contempt" broadside comes in. Not only is this Brown Defence Secretary, he is also Scottish Secretary, which appears a laughable and disrespectful combination. Disrespectable to our armed personnel dying overseas.
Admiral Boyce seen with then Mayor Jan Tranter at the Tryangle Awards in Margate.
Admiral Lord Boyce, who I have briefly met myself on a couple of occasions, and who strikes one as a man of the utmost integrity, has attacked the governments position on Defence spending. He was until fairly recently top man in the armed forces, and when he speaks out on such matters it is clearly from a knowledgable position. Along with the other chiefs of staff, five in all, he is appalled at the "contempt" shown by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, for the current economic plight and shortfall of the Armed Forces. It is practically unheard of for such a group of Defence Chiefs to have such a co-ordinated 'go' in such a way...or to put it in military terms, to launch such a devastating broadside at its government.
Listening to him on Radio 4 this morning, he acknowledged that the government had put in more funding but because of the rise in worldwide costs and committments, this extra funding was not keeping abreast of the huge increase in costs. He said the military was chronically underfunded. Gordon Brown has been Chancellor (until recently) for 10 or 12 years, so if indeed there is underfunding then Gordon himself is the man to blame.
The Defence Chiefs are also highly critical of the fact that another Brown..this time Des Brown, is doing 2 jobs in government. This is where the "contempt" broadside comes in. Not only is this Brown Defence Secretary, he is also Scottish Secretary, which appears a laughable and disrespectful combination. Disrespectable to our armed personnel dying overseas.
Admiral Boyce seen with then Mayor Jan Tranter at the Tryangle Awards in Margate. - Indeed well done Lord Boyce.
We have to remember of course that the existing Chief of the Defence Staff has also, twice, spoken out against the Government. Never has that happened before and it shows just how bad things are.
Interestingly in what was a major debate in the House of Lords the Government benches were empty most of the time, at one point there were only two Labour members present. That and the part time Defence Secretary show just the level of importance that this Government places on the lives of our young men and women in the forces.
Shocking and shameful.
I was asked to get up first and gave a answer and of the things I said was YES the armed forces do need more funding but it will not happen till high ranking officers or EX officers get up and tell the Government that and the Government will have to take in what they say.
I went on to say one of the high ranking officers to do this should be the Admiral the Load Boyce the Lord Warden and Admiral of the Cinque ports,and Constable of Dover Castle, well he has just done that its well done to him and the others for doing it
,Now the Government must listen attentively.
At last we have a Lord Warden who will speak out, AGAIN SIR WELL DONE.
Cllr Vic Matcham