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Brown hits back on forces funding Brown hits back on forces funding
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has denied criticism from former defence chiefs that he had been "unsympathetic" and showed "contempt" for the armed forces. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has denied criticism from former defence chiefs that he had been "unsympathetic" and showed "contempt" for the armed forces.
The prime minister said he had "nothing but praise" for the forces, and said more resources were going into defence "than ever before". He said he had "nothing but praise" for the forces, and more resources were going into defence "than ever before".
On Thursday five ex-chiefs of staff attacked defence funding levels.On Thursday five ex-chiefs of staff attacked defence funding levels.
Admiral Lord Boyce, said the decision to make Des Browne both defence and Scottish secretary was an "insult". Tory leader David Cameron has written to Mr Brown asking him to strip Des Browne's dual role as defence and Scottish secretary.
Asked if he agreed he had shown contempt for the armed forces, Mr Brown, who is in Kampala, Uganda, for a Commonwealth summit, said: "I have got nothing but praise for our armed forces. Admiral Lord Boyce said the fact that Mr Browne had another job in Cabinet alongside that of defence secretary was an "insult" to the armed forces.
The prime minister, who is in Kampala, Uganda, for a Commonwealth summit, denied he had shown contempt
Asked if he agreed he had shown contempt for the armed forces, the prime minister, said: "I have got nothing but praise for our armed forces.
I will put my record in relation to both commitment and delivery up against anyone's Des BrowneDefence secretary Brown's 'contempt for forces' Analysis: MoD spending battleI will put my record in relation to both commitment and delivery up against anyone's Des BrowneDefence secretary Brown's 'contempt for forces' Analysis: MoD spending battle
"I have visited them in Iraq and Afghanistan and what they are doing are acts of great courage."I have visited them in Iraq and Afghanistan and what they are doing are acts of great courage.
"I want to see the armed forces properly equipped with the resources that they need. And that's why we've been increasing expenditure on defence compared with the cuts under the previous government.""I want to see the armed forces properly equipped with the resources that they need. And that's why we've been increasing expenditure on defence compared with the cuts under the previous government."
Earlier Defence Secretary Des Browne 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. Earlier Des Browne BBC Radio 4's Today programme that being Scottish secretary as well did not detract from his role as defence secretary, as most powers were now devolved to Holyrood.
See UK military spending by GDP See UK military spending by GDP
"I will put my record in relation to both commitment and delivery up against anyone's," said Mr Browne."I will put my record in relation to both commitment and delivery up against anyone's," said Mr Browne.
"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.""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."
He said morale among troops in Basra was "as high as it could be" and said the UK's defence budget was second only to the USA, and would see an increase of £7.7bn over the next three years.He said morale among troops in Basra was "as high as it could be" and said the UK's defence budget was second only to the USA, and would see an increase of £7.7bn over the next three years.
But 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.But 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.
Lord Guthrie said he was "a most unsympathetic chancellor ... as far as defence was concerned" - while Admiral Lord Boyce, said he believed troops thought the decision to give Mr Browne two jobs was an "insult" and the government had demonstrated "disinterest and some might say contempt" for the armed forces. Lord Guthrie said he was "a most unsympathetic chancellor ... as far as defence was concerned" while Admiral Lord Boyce said the government had demonstrated "disinterest and some might say contempt" for the armed forces.
'Vastly exceeded''Vastly exceeded'
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," said Admiral Lord Boyce, who retired as chief of defence staff in 2003.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," said Admiral Lord Boyce, who retired as chief of defence staff in 2003.
And he questioned the government's claim that it was overseeing the longest period of defence spending since the 1980s.And he questioned the government's claim that it was overseeing the longest period of defence spending since the 1980s.
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.
It's personalised against Gordon Brown because for ten years, he signed the cheques Vincent CableLib Dems Qinetiq deal 'cost UK taxpayers'It's personalised against Gordon Brown because for ten years, he signed the cheques Vincent CableLib Dems Qinetiq deal 'cost UK taxpayers'
"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. 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.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox accused the MoD of spending £2bn refitting its Whitehall offices, while there was a lack of battle helicopters in Afghanistan. And he said Britain was "vastly exceeding" planning assumptions made in 1998, due to commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He said spending assumptions made before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan needed to be updated adding: "The government needs to accept that there are shortcomings at the present time which it still seems to be in denial about." Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said spending assumptions needed to be updated adding: "The government needs to accept that there are shortcomings at the present time which it still seems to be in denial about."
And the Liberal Democrats' acting leader Vincent Cable said criticism had been "personalised" against Gordon Brown because, as chancellor: "He signed the cheque for £5bn for the war in Iraq at a time when the armed forces were already overstretched. And Conservative leader David Cameron has written to the prime minister, asking him to re-think his decision to make Mr Browne defence and Scottish secretary.
'Plain common sense'
"At a time when our forces are engaged in two highly dangerous missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, the need for the defence secretary to be able to concentrate full-time on his role is surely a matter of plain common sense," he wrote.
The Liberal Democrats' acting leader Vincent Cable said criticism had been "personalised" against Gordon Brown because, as chancellor: "He signed the cheque for £5bn for the war in Iraq at a time when the armed forces were already overstretched.
"That is why the troops are under-equipped, they are not properly housed, they are not cared for when they are injured - and they are very angry.""That is why the troops are under-equipped, they are not properly housed, they are not cared for when they are injured - and they are very angry."
The row follows months of concern from organisations like the Royal British Legion that the armed forces are over-stretched and under-funded.The row follows months of concern from organisations like the Royal British Legion that the armed forces are over-stretched and under-funded.
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 the government will announce a priority health care package for injured soldiers, to get them fast-track NHS treatment, and set up special centres for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The government is to announce a priority health care package for injured soldiers, to get them fast-track NHS treatment, and set up special centres for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
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