Defence cuts are an enormous gamble, says Lord Boyce
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy has accused Lib Dem defence minister Nick Harvey of getting his facts wrong when he said the government would save more by scrapping Harriers than Tornados.
Mr Murphy called on the government to publish all the advice it received on the issue to end "confusion".
He said: "Serious people have raised serious concerns about the government's decision to scrap Harriers and all ministers have succeeded in doing is add to the confusion.
"It's now time to publish the MoD advice and full costs of terminating the Harrier fleet and suspend the decision until we have had a proper debate."
But in an interview earlier this week, Lib Dem minister Nick Harvey appeared to suggest that the government would save more by scrapping Tornados.
Jim Murphy has written to Mr Harvey, asking the minister: "Given the importance of this issue, will you publish all of the costings that led to this decision being taken?"
My thoughts:
1. The Service chiefs have to toe the party line. End of story.
2. Focussing on the Falklands is a huge error.
3. Who advised the Government that it would be possible to have a decade with no carrier flying, and then suddenly pick up the baton and carry on? Anyone fancy doing a FOI request to see if the views of experienced naval aviation experts were sought?
Here is a
video of the debate.
I think one of the problems wih our system of Government is that new politicians take charge, who haven't been in office for over a decade, and then they start cutting straight away - not just in defence. Also I wonder why the document outlining future threats made no mention energy security (think Gulf of Aden, West Africa, and Arabian Gulf/Sea - and yes, Al Qaeda seeks to disrupt energy supplies, and Iran has threatened to do so)?
Oh - Just seen this from the
Telegraph:
Head of Navy made last minute plea to save Harriers from scrap-heap
In a tense meeting, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the First Sea Lord, told Mr Cameron that he "could not endorse as his military advice" the decision to axe the Harriers and considered it a "political, not military decision."