Ex-Army Chief Accuses PM Over Funds

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Ex-Army Chief Accuses PM Over Funds


Sunday, September 09, 2007

Source: Ananova

 
 

Former head of the Army, General Sir Mike Jackson, has pointed the finger at Gordon Brown for depriving the armed forces of much-needed cash during his time as Chancellor.

And the ex-Chief of General Staff questioned whether Mr Brown would be more ready to increase funding for the troops now he was Prime Minister.
 
Gen Jackson is calling for an immediate increase in the defence budget of 10% - or around ?3.4 billion a year - as well as a review of Ministry of Defence spending, in order to improve pay and conditions for troops as well as covering the cost of what is expected to be a lengthy commitment in Afghanistan.

In his autobiography Soldier, published on Monday, he makes clear he believes that Tony Blair's promises of lavish funding for the armed forces when he was in 10 Downing Street were blocked by Mr Brown as Chancellor.

"The Prime Minister was quoted as saying that the Army could have anything it needed - to which the cynical response was, 'Tell that to your next-door neighbour'," he wrote.

He told the Independent on Sunday: "That quote means it's all very well for the (then) Prime Minister to make such a generous statement, but it has to be backed up with money. And we all know where the money comes from.

"I don't know whether the change from Chancellor to Prime Minister will give Gordon Brown a different perspective on the armed forces."