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Criticism over sailors' media row Criticism over sailors' media row
(about 2 hours later)
The government has been accused of harming the Navy's reputation by allowing sailors to sell stories of their 13-day ordeal in Iran.The government has been accused of harming the Navy's reputation by allowing sailors to sell stories of their 13-day ordeal in Iran.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the decision had done "a great deal of damage" and urged ministers to "come clean" over the decision.Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the decision had done "a great deal of damage" and urged ministers to "come clean" over the decision.
Downing St has refused to say when Tony Blair knew, but any further interviews have been banned pending a review. Downing St has refused to say when Tony Blair knew, but any further media sales have been banned pending a review.
The Lib Dems said events had been "mishandled" and the ban came too late.The Lib Dems said events had been "mishandled" and the ban came too late.
The government made their U-turn late on Monday, reversing an earlier decision to allow service personnel to sell their stories.The government made their U-turn late on Monday, reversing an earlier decision to allow service personnel to sell their stories.
'Tough call''Tough call'
Defence Secretary Des Browne, who was made aware of the Navy's intention to allow the stories to be sold, said the decision had been a "tough call" for the Navy. Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors.
He imposed the ban on more sales yesterday after admitting the outcome had not been "satisfactory" and lessons needed to be learned. And Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Tonight with Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper - reportedly for a six-figure sum, some of which will go to navy families.
An MoD review of the rules governing the issue is under way aimed at making the regulations consistent across the armed forces, he added. Defence Secretary Des Browne, who was made aware of the Navy's intention to allow the stories to be sold, imposed the ban on more sales on Monday, after admitting the outcome had not been "satisfactory" and saying that lessons needed to be learned.
An MoD review of the rules governing the issue was under way, aimed at making the regulations consistent across the armed forces, he added.
Des Browne needs to come clean with the details of who was involved in the decision, at what stage and why it was taken Liam FoxDes Browne needs to come clean with the details of who was involved in the decision, at what stage and why it was taken Liam Fox
Dr Fox, who has said the crew were effectively "put up for auction" after their return last week, described the original decision as "complete ministerial incompetence".Dr Fox, who has said the crew were effectively "put up for auction" after their return last week, described the original decision as "complete ministerial incompetence".
"The MoD's actions were completely at odds with normal procedure and totally out of character with the ethos of our armed forces," he said."The MoD's actions were completely at odds with normal procedure and totally out of character with the ethos of our armed forces," he said.
"Des Browne needs to come clean with the details of who was involved in the decision, at what stage and why it was taken.""Des Browne needs to come clean with the details of who was involved in the decision, at what stage and why it was taken."
He later told the BBC that the whole episode had done "a great deal of damage" to the dignity of the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence was guilty of "a failure of leadership".He later told the BBC that the whole episode had done "a great deal of damage" to the dignity of the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence was guilty of "a failure of leadership".
'Laughing stock''Laughing stock'
On Tuesday, a Downing Street spokeswoman refused to be drawn on when the prime minister became aware of the decision.On Tuesday, a Downing Street spokeswoman refused to be drawn on when the prime minister became aware of the decision.
She said: "This was a decision taken by the Navy... I don't think it's helpful to get into who informed who when. The prime minister supports the defence secretary in the decision taken to look at this." She said: "This was a decision taken by the navy... I don't think it's helpful to get into who informed who when. The prime minister supports the defence secretary in the decision taken to look at this."
I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through Leading Seaman Faye Turney Captive 'felt like a traitor' Stories sale criticism grows I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through Leading Seaman Faye Turney Captive 'felt like a traitor' Stories sale criticism grows
But Labour former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle said the armed forces had been left a "laughing stock" because of the way it had been handled.But Labour former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle said the armed forces had been left a "laughing stock" because of the way it had been handled.
And Liberal Democrat spokesman Nick Harvey said the ban came too late and was an admission that the MoD had "completely mishandled the situation".And Liberal Democrat spokesman Nick Harvey said the ban came too late and was an admission that the MoD had "completely mishandled the situation".
He also warned the government against using the ban as an excuse to gag personnel from helpful discourse with the media in the future.He also warned the government against using the ban as an excuse to gag personnel from helpful discourse with the media in the future.
Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors.
And Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Tonight with Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper - reportedly for a six-figure sum, some of which will go to navy families.
HAVE YOUR SAY The tragedy is that the relatives of those servicemen/women who have died seem to generate much less interest from the media Fred, Macclesfield Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The tragedy is that the relatives of those servicemen/women who have died seem to generate much less interest from the media Fred, Macclesfield Send us your comments
In the Trevor Macdonald programme, she defended her decision to sell her story and said a percentage of the money would help the crew and families of HMS Cornwall. In the Trevor Macdonald programme, Leading Seaman Turney defended her decision to sell her story and said a percentage of the money would help the crew and families of HMS Cornwall.
"I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through," she told the programme."I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through," she told the programme.
The Royal Navy crew were on patrol boats in the Gulf on 23 March when they were detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.The Royal Navy crew were on patrol boats in the Gulf on 23 March when they were detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
The Iranians accused the crew of straying into its waters - the British say they were in Iraqi territory.The Iranians accused the crew of straying into its waters - the British say they were in Iraqi territory.