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Ministers hit back in troops row Browne hits back over troops row
(about 2 hours later)
Ministers have hit back after Gordon Brown and the government came under attack from former military top brass over the treatment of UK armed forces. Defence Secretary Des Browne has hit back at criticism by former defence chiefs, saying morale among serving soldiers is "as high as it could be".
Five former chiefs of the defence staff warned of "blood on the floor" at the MoD because of inadequate funding. Admiral Lord Boyce said Gordon Brown treated UK forces with "contempt" - and his decision to make Mr Browne Scottish Secretary as well was an "insult".
Admiral Lord Boyce said the prime minister had treated the armed services with "contempt" and "disinterest". Mr Browne said he had not heard those criticisms from serving soldiers and he was happy to be judged on his record.
Defence Minister Derek Twigg said there had been the longest period of growth in defence spending since the 1980s. On Thursday five ex-chiefs of staff criticised MoD funding levels.
Mr Twigg told the BBC that the government was absolutely committed to the armed forces. Mr Browne told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that being Scottish secretary did not detract from his role as defence secretary, as most powers were now devolved to Holyrood.
The next spending round would see an increase of £7.7bn for defence, he added. 'Current views'
'Lack of judgement' He said what the armed forces wanted to know was whether ministers showed the level of commitment necessary to support them.
The former defence chiefs spoke during a Lords debate, in which there were calls to improve levels of military funding. "I will put my record in relation to both commitment and delivery up against anyone's," said Mr Browne.
Admiral Lord Boyce criticised a decision to give Des Browne the jobs of both defence secretary and Scottish secretary. It is correct and accepted, that the recent settlement will see an increase of £7.7bn over the next three years Des BrowneDefence secretary class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7108354.stm">Brown's 'contempt for forces' class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7084444.stm">Analysis: MoD spending battle
Lord Boyce said: "It is seen as an insult by our sailors, our soldiers and our airmen on the front line. "Tell me what it is that a secretary of state for defence should be doing, that I am not doing... This is not an issue that has ever been raised with me by any serving soldier when I have been in an operational theatre."
"It is certainly a demonstration of the disinterest and some might say contempt that the prime minister and his government has for our armed forces. He said serving chiefs of staff had "other views" and added: "I'm not that long back from Iraq ... I found the morale of our troops in the operating base in Basra is as high as it could be."
"And it shows an appalling lack of judgement at a time when our people are being killed and they are being maimed." 'An insult'
'Great insensitivity' On Thursday five former chiefs of the defence staff warned of "blood on the floor" at the MoD because of inadequate funding, during a debate in the House of Lords.
Speaking later to BBC News 24, Admiral Lord Boyce said the military was also chronically underfunded. But Mr Browne said: ''We have in the United Kingdom the second highest defence budget in the world, in real terms. We are exceeded only by the United States of America."
He said: "The money that defence was given for its budget is not sufficient to meet the level of activities that the armed forces are currently engaged in. The prime minister can't be bothered to appoint a minister in charge of the armed forces on a full time basis Admiral Lord Boyce
"If you start back, say 10 years ago, from the strategic defence review that itself was underfunded...since then the gap has not been closed." "It is correct and accepted, that the recent settlement will see an increase of £7.7bn over the next three years.''
General Lord Guthrie blamed the prime minister for "the very serious situation we find the services in today". Admiral Lord Boyce, who retired as chief of defence staff in 2003, said the message he was getting from troops was that the decision to give Mr Browne two jobs was seen as an "insult".
Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig of Radley asked whether it was "immoral to commit forces that are underprepared and ill-equipped for their task?" On Friday, he questioned the government's statement that it was overseeing the longest period of defence spending since the 1980s.
Further criticisms were levelled by Field Marshals Lord Bramall and Lord Inge. 'Dangerous situations'
Our chiefs of staff are very clear that the confidence is not broken, that the morale is good Defence Minister Derek Twigg They were later joined by Labour former defence minister Lord Gilbert, who said "injudicious actions" by the prime minister had brought criticism on himself. He said that started with the "under funded" strategic defence review of 1998, and while there had been year-on-year increases, the cost of defence equipment had risen much faster.
Lord Gilbert called Mr Brown's failure to thank troops in the Queen's Speech "quite extraordinary". "And also of course, what has also changed is the level of activity that was predicated in 1998 to be at a certain level and we are now vastly exceeding that by running two wars," he said.
"I think it showed a great insensitivity not only to the morale of the troops but to their families as well," he told BBC Two's Newsnight programme. The government's commitment was "best exemplified by the fact that the prime minister can't be bothered to appoint a minister in charge of the armed forces on a full time basis," he said.
Mr Twigg insisted that current defence chiefs did not share the concerns of their predecessors. Some people on the frontline, in all three forces, "feel they are being treated in contempt at a time when they are really putting themselves on the line in dangerous situations and... the perception is they don't see themselves as being viewed as important."
He said: "I talk to our chiefs of staff - I was with them yesterday - and they are very clear that the confidence is not broken, that the morale is good and we are very committed to improving things further." On Thursday Labour former defence minister Lord Gilbert told the BBC "injudicious actions" by the prime minister had brought criticism on himself and said his failure to thank troops in the Queen's Speech "quite extraordinary".
A source close to Mr Brown criticised the former defence chiefs for speaking out when they knew the prime minister was at the Commonwealth summit in Uganda.A source close to Mr Brown criticised the former defence chiefs for speaking out when they knew the prime minister was at the Commonwealth summit in Uganda.
Fast-track treatment
The source suggested that as former senior public servants they should "know better".The source suggested that as former senior public servants they should "know better".
The Lords' concerted action follows months of concern from organisations such as the Royal British Legion that the UK's armed forces are over-stretched and under-funded for the missions they are being asked to carry out in Iraq and Afghanistan.The Lords' concerted action follows months of concern from organisations such as the Royal British Legion that the UK's armed forces are over-stretched and under-funded for the missions they are being asked to carry out in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They point out that during the early 1980s the government spent almost 5% of GDP on defence but today the figure is closer to 2.5%.They point out that during the early 1980s the government spent almost 5% of GDP on defence but today the figure is closer to 2.5%.
Later on Friday the Government will announce a priority health care package for injured soldiers. Later on Friday the government will announce a priority health care package for injured soldiers.
Veterans will be given fast-track treatment on the NHS, and special centres will be set up for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.Veterans will be given fast-track treatment on the NHS, and special centres will be set up for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.