When will Brown do the right thing on constitutional reform and defence?

Posted by Thomas Byrne on February 4, 2010 · 2 Comments 

The Government finally released the funds to pay for helicopters and equipment so urgently needed in Afghanistan, but not without reluctance from Gordon Brown who guillotined defence spending according to evidence from The Chilcot Enquiry, and in a letter he wrote to Tony Blair revealed in the Times today purposely diverted funds away from those helicopters that the army were begging for to be successful in Afghanistan.

He then proceeded to mislead the house in Prime Ministers Questions. In response to David Cameron bringing up the claims from Chilcot he reverted into the mentality of opposition – albeit one which can’t get it’s facts right. Brown claimed that the Coonservative party planned cut defence spending at the 2005 election, however as Nicolas Soames set the record straight in a speech to the RUSI.

‘There has been a great deal of misinformation from the Labour Party about Conservative defence expenditure plans and I am grateful for this opportunity to put the record straight. My party is committed to spending £2.7 billion in cash more than the present government on frontline defence.

He then proceeded to outline how a Conservative government would reallocate resouces to meet the demands of our commitments abroad.

‘The James Review has identified an additional £1.6 billion of efficiency savings over and above those identified in the Gershon Review and the Shadow Chancellor has agreed to reallocate a further £1.1 billion to defence from James Review savings in other departments’

In contrast, Brown has chosen to sound off about constitutional reform again. (As if they haven’t had a chance to do that for the last twelve years) When they start tinkering with the constitution then you know they’ve really got nothing valuable to say on real-life issues that actually matter to people. The move towards the alternative vote is merely one of party strategy, bring in AV, it’ll make it impossible for Lib Dems to even *mention* voting reform for 20 years, killing off all chance of serious reform that some in the Westminster village seek, and taking back Liberal Democrat votes from seats where Labour are under threat. In a nearby constituency of mine, the Lib Dems are biting at the heels of the sitting MP, will this so called ‘reform’ be enough to lure those floating voters back and reaffirm the Labour party hold on the North East?

If Gordon Brown was serious about reform he would be listening to the calls of the speaker John Bercow and give power back to the commons, especially to select committees. One suggestion in a report surrounding defence by the CPS is to follow the USA’s lead in accountability.

“In the US, when a +programme breaches its cost ceilings, the Department of Defense must testify before Congress. A similar procedure should be adopted here by the Defence Select Committee.”

Anyone who takes a gander of Private Eye will be aware of the cosy arrangements with the big contractors that this government have fostered and they must cease futhurmore this government has talked a lot about it’s pro-european credentials but wouldn’t allow EADS to do things the ‘best’ way but the way that ensures jobs and maintenance of expertise in member state so it becomes more needlessly complicated and drags on.

Just like this government it seems.



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Joe Glenton and Afghanistan – Ever a lad so wrong?

Posted by Thomas Byrne on November 12, 2009 · 2 Comments 

I’m late onto the scene with this story, but with it coming up again recently I thought it needed commenting upon.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton is refusing to return to Afghanistan because he has identified it as an unjust war. He is now going to be facing prsion due to playing a major role in a anti war protest

Here is the text of the letter he has sent to downing street:

“Dear Mr. Brown,

I am writing to you as a serving soldier in the British army to express my views and concerns on the current conflict in Afghanistan.

It is my primary concern that the courage and tenacity of my fellow soldiers has become a tool of American foreign policy. I believe this unethical short-changing of such proud men and women has caused immeasurable suffering not only to families of British service personnel who have been killed and injured, but also to the noble people of Afghanistan.

I have seen qualities in the Afghan people which have also been for so long apparent and admired in the British soldier. Qualities of robustness, humour, utter determination and unwillingness to take a step backwards. However it is these qualities, on both sides, which I fear will continue to cause a state of attrition. These will only lead to more heartbreak within both our societies.

I am not a general nor am I a politician and I cannot claim any mastery of strategy. However, I am a soldier who has served in Afghanistan, which has given me some small insight.

I believe that when British military personnel submit themselves to the service of the nation and put their bodies into harm’s way, the government that sends them into battle is obliged to ensure that the cause is just and right, i.e. for the protection of life and liberty.

The war in Afghanistan is not reducing the terrorist risk, far from improving Afghan lives it is bringing death and devastation to their country. Britain has no business there.
I do not believe that our cause in Afghanistan is just or right. I implore you, Sir, to bring our soldiers home.

Yours sincerely,

Joe Glenton
Lance/Corporal, Royal Logistics Corps”

I understand that many people join the army for different reasons (Often here in the North East due to financial pressure with the lack of productive jobs in the region) and may not realise the consequences of the choice they make. Films, books, even the BBC on occasion have somewhat glorified the wars Britain have been in placing the thought in these lads they can fulfill their romantic dreams of nationalism and patriotism at the same time – with the glorification of the nation in recent times it’s easy to be sucked in; Suddenly, it’s not about a uniform and having sex when you’re back home, but it’s about a war which your moral compass tells you is unethical.

 

However this young chap seems to be somewhat naive – and wrong on a number of levels. Apparently he signed up in 2004, so you can hardly excuse him as being unaware of the situation.

 

Does he really think that we can relieve the suffering of the civilian Afghan’s by bringing the troops home? Does he really thinks the suffering of ‘noble’ Afghans will decrease if the Taliban are allowed to go back? He seems to think that thinks that the UK and Afghans would be safer is these sorts of people were in allowed in power? It’s not like they don’t have a history of giving sanctuary to terrorists which have attacked/plan to attack us.

 

Opinion polls in the UK show support for the troops being there is at an all time low with a number of the fringe political parties calling for withdrawal and pressure from within the Liberal Democrats to adopt the same position there’s reason to worry.
Given that pulling out and leaving the country to its fate shouldn’t be an option, what else is there?

 A politically neutral force that can alleviate the tensions between the Afghans and the troops and placate nationalistic tensions from the British public.

For now, we have to deal with the inevitable backlash over this Joe Glenton being courts martialed, and think yet again how we can get the correct strategy for Afghanistan – and win the support of the British electorate.

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