Secretary of State's speech today:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...g-fighting-fit
"For example, do we need 57 separate sites within the M25?"
It all depends if you want a capability to bail out public services on strike, Minister...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/defenc...s/14704502931/
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...D_45157632.jpg
...or would the Minister rather we based our capabilities away from the City?
It all depends if you want a capability to help the lack of investment in flood defences and dredging by local government, Minister...
The Rifles Collection ? Operation Pitchpole
Op Pitchpole | Royal Navy
Senior Regiment Officer Visits Gunners on Flood Relief Operations
...I would suggest that your voters would want to know where their help is coming from and where they are going to base that effort from?
It all depends if you make a complete Horlicks of the venue security for a major national event and need the military to sort it out?
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/a...mpics-security
...and then we still consider contractorisation when the contractors let us down time and again?
It all depends if you want to provide a 'point defence' airborne FJ capability in your City, Minister?
Typhoon fighter planes stationed at RAF Northolt in Olympics military build-up | Daily Mail Online
...or are you going to rely on bases further away?
It all depends if you want rapid reaction "boots on the ground" for terrorism, Minister?
400 soldiers patrol Heathrow amid terror fears | Daily Mail Online
...or are you going to rely on capabilities that could arrive after the horse has bolted?
Quite frankly, this comment shows the naivety of the Minister's advisors. Can he really have forgotten Op OLYMPICS, Op FODIENT, Op PITCHPOLE,, and others so quickly - all used MoD bases inside the M25? Was it Comrade Milliband or Balls that assisted him in order to cause the Tories embarassment? There are inaccuracies and errors throughout on the day that has been banded as '100 days to go' to the election. This is shown by this comment that was also blatted out:
We’ve cut the red tape that can bog down any large organisation.
250,000 computer users used to have to print out and re-sign a form every year to use the IT system.
No longer.
Well Minister, I've been in 'the Mob' for a long time and I cannot, EVER, remember signing paperwork to use an IT system - Dii (both flavours), CHots, Jocs, and many more! Someone is telling you 'porky pies' old boy!
So in light of this speech and its inaccuracies, this sentence feeds me with dread:
Before every Board meeting now I have a comprehensive report on my desk…with an exhaustive overview of what’s going on including the readiness of each of our ships, aircraft and units.
LJ