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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Tory anger at Brown's Iraq visit | Tory anger at Brown's Iraq visit |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has been accused of "cynical pre-election politics" over his visit to British forces in Iraq. | Gordon Brown has been accused of "cynical pre-election politics" over his visit to British forces in Iraq. |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said Mr Brown preferred a photo opportunity in Basra to keeping his promise to tell MPs first about planned troop cuts. | Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said Mr Brown preferred a photo opportunity in Basra to keeping his promise to tell MPs first about planned troop cuts. |
| He said the PM used the armed forces as a "political football". Sir John Major also questioned the timing of the announcement and Mr Brown's visit. | He said the PM used the armed forces as a "political football". Sir John Major also questioned the timing of the announcement and Mr Brown's visit. |
| But No 10 said it was "preposterous" to suggest the PM was playing politics. | |
| The prime minister's official spokesman said he had always planned to go to Iraq as part "of the normal process of government". | The prime minister's official spokesman said he had always planned to go to Iraq as part "of the normal process of government". |
| Home for Christmas | Home for Christmas |
| During his visit, Mr Brown said that UK forces in Iraq were to be cut by 1,000 by 2008. | During his visit, Mr Brown said that UK forces in Iraq were to be cut by 1,000 by 2008. |
| The Ministry of Defence has since confirmed that figure includes the 500 troops whose withdrawal was announced in July - 270 of whom are already home. | The Ministry of Defence has since confirmed that figure includes the 500 troops whose withdrawal was announced in July - 270 of whom are already home. |
| The remaining 230 and a further 500 should be home for Christmas, Mr Brown said. After that, 4,500 UK troops will remain, at the Basra Airport base. | The remaining 230 and a further 500 should be home for Christmas, Mr Brown said. After that, 4,500 UK troops will remain, at the Basra Airport base. |
| If it is now possible to hand over progressively to the Iraqi army and to bring more of our troops back home, then he will certainly have my support David Cameron, Conservative leader Tories attack PM over forces Analysis: Brown's 'neat trick' UK troops in Basra to be cut | If it is now possible to hand over progressively to the Iraqi army and to bring more of our troops back home, then he will certainly have my support David Cameron, Conservative leader Tories attack PM over forces Analysis: Brown's 'neat trick' UK troops in Basra to be cut |
| The prime minister said Basra province could be handed over to full Iraqi control in the next two months. | The prime minister said Basra province could be handed over to full Iraqi control in the next two months. |
| In his first visit to Iraq since becoming prime minister, Mr Brown praised the "great courage, professionalism and bravery" of Britain's armed forces. | In his first visit to Iraq since becoming prime minister, Mr Brown praised the "great courage, professionalism and bravery" of Britain's armed forces. |
| He met Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki for talks and was updated on the security situation by US General David Petraeus - and on Iraq's economy by deputy prime minister Barham Saleh. | He met Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki for talks and was updated on the security situation by US General David Petraeus - and on Iraq's economy by deputy prime minister Barham Saleh. |
| But the timing of his visit, amid mounting speculation that Mr Brown is preparing to call a general election, came under fire at the Conservative Party conference. | But the timing of his visit, amid mounting speculation that Mr Brown is preparing to call a general election, came under fire at the Conservative Party conference. |
| 'Photo opportunity' | 'Photo opportunity' |
| Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said MPs had been led to expect a statement on the withdrawal of troops from Basra in the House of Commons on Monday. | Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said MPs had been led to expect a statement on the withdrawal of troops from Basra in the House of Commons on Monday. |
| "It now seems that the photo opportunity has just been too great for Gordon Brown. | "It now seems that the photo opportunity has just been too great for Gordon Brown. |
| "And many people will see this as cynical politics, playing political football with our armed forces. | "And many people will see this as cynical politics, playing political football with our armed forces. |
| Let's be clear this is not the story Gordon Brown wanted to tell BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full In pictures: UK PM in Iraq | Let's be clear this is not the story Gordon Brown wanted to tell BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full In pictures: UK PM in Iraq |
| "And a lot of people, given Gordon Brown's lack of interest previously, will find this pretty cynical and unacceptable." | "And a lot of people, given Gordon Brown's lack of interest previously, will find this pretty cynical and unacceptable." |
| Former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major said he was "disappointed" Mr Brown had not made the statement to MPs first, rather than during a flying visit to Iraq at a time of heightened speculation over a general election. | Former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major said he was "disappointed" Mr Brown had not made the statement to MPs first, rather than during a flying visit to Iraq at a time of heightened speculation over a general election. |
| "It wasn't announced last week at his party conference, it was announced on the hoof in Iraq. It hasn't been announced, as it should have been, in Parliament," he said. | "It wasn't announced last week at his party conference, it was announced on the hoof in Iraq. It hasn't been announced, as it should have been, in Parliament," he said. |
| 'Foolish speculation' | 'Foolish speculation' |
| Asked if he agreed with Dr Fox that it was a cynical decision, Sir John said: "I think the prime minister has to show that it isn't. I am not surprised that many people think that." | Asked if he agreed with Dr Fox that it was a cynical decision, Sir John said: "I think the prime minister has to show that it isn't. I am not surprised that many people think that." |
| He cautioned Mr Brown to "stop this feverish and foolish speculation" over whether there will be an election. | He cautioned Mr Brown to "stop this feverish and foolish speculation" over whether there will be an election. |
| Where are British troops? | Where are British troops? |
| Earlier, in a speech to the Conservative conference in Blackpool, Mr Fox said everyone wanted to see British troops home from Iraq, but only when the job was done - not because of "overstretch". | Earlier, in a speech to the Conservative conference in Blackpool, Mr Fox said everyone wanted to see British troops home from Iraq, but only when the job was done - not because of "overstretch". |
| He promised "a bigger Army for a safer Britain" under a Conservative government. | He promised "a bigger Army for a safer Britain" under a Conservative government. |
| And he attacked Labour's treatment of the armed forces, saying its policies were "an insult to our fighting men and women". | And he attacked Labour's treatment of the armed forces, saying its policies were "an insult to our fighting men and women". |
| He criticised the condition of family quarters, the backlog in the government's compensation scheme and delays in inquests. | He criticised the condition of family quarters, the backlog in the government's compensation scheme and delays in inquests. |
| However armed forces minister Bob Ainsworth said the government "greatly valued" the armed forces. | However armed forces minister Bob Ainsworth said the government "greatly valued" the armed forces. |
| "That is why we have introduced a tax free operational bonus worth £2,320 and more recently a 25% rebate on the average council tax bill for those serving on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. | "That is why we have introduced a tax free operational bonus worth £2,320 and more recently a 25% rebate on the average council tax bill for those serving on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. |
| He added that the government was spending £5bn on improving service accommodation. | He added that the government was spending £5bn on improving service accommodation. |
| Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, Nick Harvey, added: "Liam Fox offers tough rhetoric on the state of our armed forces but little substance." | Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, Nick Harvey, added: "Liam Fox offers tough rhetoric on the state of our armed forces but little substance." |