Robertson defends military record

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Former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson has defended the prime minister's record on the military.

George Robertson said Gordon Brown had been "tremendously generous" towards the armed forces.

The former defence secretary added that five former chiefs of the defence staff were "wrong" to suggest otherwise.

Lord Robertson said governments had to be persuaded to spend more money on defence and added Britain's forces were among the "best equipped".

On Thursday five former chiefs of the defence staff warned of "blood on the floor" at the Ministry of Defence because of inadequate funding, during a debate in the House of Lords.

Admiral Lord Boyce, who retired as chief of defence staff in 2003, complained that making Des Browne defence and Scottish secretary had been an "insult".

'Areas of conflict'

Tory leader David Cameron has written to Mr Brown asking him to divide the roles between two people.

Admiral Lord Boyce also questioned the government's claim that it was overseeing the longest period of defence spending since the 1980s, saying the cost of military equipment was rising faster than budget increases.

And Britain was "vastly exceeding" planning assumptions made in 1998, due to commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.

Lord Robertson, a former Labour MP, said: "It is something like £8bn since 2001 that has been spent separately from the defence budget on operations, as well as on a lot of the new equipment, on what they call urgent operational requirements.

"These include things needed at the present moment in areas of conflict.

"All of this has been supplied. I think our soldiers are among the best equipped."