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I found the following excellent draft letter on ARRSE. As far as I am concerned the BBC should have the licence fee taken away from them. I agree with every word of the following but would not bother to write such a letter myself to our MP as he has as little interest in the Forces as his leader.
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Sent to my local MP and OFCOM.
Please feel free to plagiarise as necessary
Sir,
THE BBC PROGRAMME UNDERCOVER SOLDIER
1. During the making of this programme the BBC has used Taxpayers money to feed, house and train a recruit who in reality was a reporter. He had no intention of ever serving his country. It has now become clear that this programme was as lacking in substance as it was in incriminating evidence, in that after more than 5 months of training the reporter "Sharpe" provided absolutely no evidence of bullying. He did however provide much hearsay against an investigation which was already ongoing.
2. I would point out that "Sharpe" lied on his attestation, and draw your attention to the Oath of Allegiance:
I .....(name) swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors [and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, in Person, Crown and Dignity against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, and of the Generals and Officers set over me. So Help me God."
3. "Sharpe" obviously had no intention of keeping his oath and deliberately lied in order that he could leave the army. This does not surprise me in this day and age. Honour, duty and loyalty are not considered worthy traits by such odious people as "Sharpe". He probably found the idea of swearing an Oath distasteful. Fortunately for him his forebears did not, otherwise his oath may have begun with the words;
" Ich Shwuere bei Unsere Fuehrer Adolf Hitler....."
4. However the fact that the BBC commissioned this "reality programme", in effect using my money to undermine the Armed Forces in which I served as an Officer for 24 years, makes my blood boil. The Corporation at least deserves a name change for they most certainly do not represent the UK in any way, shape or form. I have no problem with the "Chattering Classes" having an outlet for their views. I do object to paying for it!
5. "Sharpe" stated in the programme that the British Army is undermanned by 1300 infantry men, and with this knowledge took the place of a recruit who may well have gone on to serve his Country. The current Operational Tempo is such that our Armed Forces are even more stretched - and they ARE stretched - than they were when I left some 12 years ago. That in itself shows gross misjudgment on the part of both himself and the BBC. They have deprived a fighting unit of a trained soldier and possibly some infantryman of his life as a vacancy was filled which could have been taken up by someone who was prepared to be counted when the time came to serve. It is almost impossible for me to express my level for of disgust.
6. "Sharpe" and BBC should be made to recompense the Army for the money it expended on training, remuneration etc and issue a public apology. I would also ask that you direct HMRC in the direction of "Sharpe's" bank account to ensure the correct amount of tax has been paid. In an ideal world prosecutions would also take place but I fear this is not to be.
7. I realize raising a Debate in the House is unlikely but I would ask that you raise this topic with as many of your colleagues as possible. The entire situation is a disgrace, particularly the behaviour of the BBC.
Yours Sincerely
Major (Retired) R-M
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