That's Torn It - New Defence SofS
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From Wiki on IDS
Ex Regiment so explains the bombastic way he goes about things
He is also Scottish - Including myself that makes 2 Rory Voters from up here
He was commissioned into the Scots Guards as a second lieutenant on 28 June 1975. He was assigned the service number 500263.[9] He was promoted to lieutenant on 28 June 1977.[10] He was moved to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers on 2 April 1981, signalling his retirement from the military.[11]
He is also Scottish - Including myself that makes 2 Rory Voters from up here
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If only we could persuade BEagle to stand as an MP ... but with his sound common sense approach and reasoned argument ... he'd have no chance of becoming SofS for Defence 
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I wonder how you appoint a female Minister of Defence? look at their legs and the ones closest to resembling milk bottles mounted on shoes get the job? that way you know they''ll fit in.
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If I recall correctly Dr Fox had a pretty realistic and well balanced view of Defence, and said some sensible stuff - which is rare for a politician.
I do agree though, we certainly need a SofS that not only understands Defence, but importantly can communicate and inform a public that has a reducing ability to comprehend anything beyond the 'what were we doing in Afghan' argument.
I was recently having a chat with my 23ish year old tennis coach (yep, I am that rubbish!) over Argentina v Germany World Cup favourites, and to my amazement he had no knowledge of the Falklands Conflict, and this wasn't an inner city drug using drop out, but what I thought as an articulate and educated young lad.
I know that just as we can't live on the laurels of the Battle of Britain that the Navy can't live off the Falklands, but if the nation forgets or fails to understand these lessons then we will only repeat them.
This is the challenge for the next SofS - Mr Hammond has balanced the books (probably too over zealously I believe), but I personally felt that he could have done more to make the nation as a whole more aware of why there was a requirement to spend on Defence on what the roles, purposes and functions of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force are in this post Afghan era now that Bin Laden and the publicly associated War on Terror is complete.
If not Dr Fox, then IDS was pretty robust within the cabinet with Work and Pensions and might be able to prevent other departments sniping at MoD money in the future around SDSR15.
If any luck either Dr Fox or Mr Duncan Smith will be able to reverse some of the very short sighted Treasury lead decisions from the last SDSR.
I do agree though, we certainly need a SofS that not only understands Defence, but importantly can communicate and inform a public that has a reducing ability to comprehend anything beyond the 'what were we doing in Afghan' argument.
I was recently having a chat with my 23ish year old tennis coach (yep, I am that rubbish!) over Argentina v Germany World Cup favourites, and to my amazement he had no knowledge of the Falklands Conflict, and this wasn't an inner city drug using drop out, but what I thought as an articulate and educated young lad.
I know that just as we can't live on the laurels of the Battle of Britain that the Navy can't live off the Falklands, but if the nation forgets or fails to understand these lessons then we will only repeat them.
This is the challenge for the next SofS - Mr Hammond has balanced the books (probably too over zealously I believe), but I personally felt that he could have done more to make the nation as a whole more aware of why there was a requirement to spend on Defence on what the roles, purposes and functions of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force are in this post Afghan era now that Bin Laden and the publicly associated War on Terror is complete.
If not Dr Fox, then IDS was pretty robust within the cabinet with Work and Pensions and might be able to prevent other departments sniping at MoD money in the future around SDSR15.
If any luck either Dr Fox or Mr Duncan Smith will be able to reverse some of the very short sighted Treasury lead decisions from the last SDSR.
Hammond did a difficult job well. I would say the proof is that when he came to office the MOD had poor relations with HM Treasury and very little delegated authority to spend without HMT sign off. Today is has the highest level of delegated authority of department.
Hammond was never a 'people person' but those who worked with him saw he was passionate about supporting defence, he was very pro military but he couldnt stand sacred cows existing unless there was a really good reason for them. I think the opposition to him comes from areas where sacred cows were looked at and found to be wanting.
I am glad Fox isn't coming back - a great opposition politician, found very wanting indeed in the Great Offices of state and arguably well out of his depth.
Hammond was never a 'people person' but those who worked with him saw he was passionate about supporting defence, he was very pro military but he couldnt stand sacred cows existing unless there was a really good reason for them. I think the opposition to him comes from areas where sacred cows were looked at and found to be wanting.
I am glad Fox isn't coming back - a great opposition politician, found very wanting indeed in the Great Offices of state and arguably well out of his depth.
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Surely he's been one of the least worst Secs for some time? When he was appointed, Broon had been signing IOU's everywhere which he had to pay for. Some of it was not even budgeted at all!
It must have been a dismal time to be a serviceman -but blaming Hammond for that is like the victim of a brawl punching the ambulanceman.
It must have been a dismal time to be a serviceman -but blaming Hammond for that is like the victim of a brawl punching the ambulanceman.
[sarcasm on] Oh goody, another career politician... [sarcasm off]
I note that the Right Honorable Mr Fallon has, as Fox 3 noted, had his hand in the till. Should be good for all of those JPA claims then!
From Wikipedia:
Finally, just how is the Secretary of State for Defence a suitably qualified and experienced person (SQEP) in that he left St Andrews Uni to go into politics and then for a short while dabbled as director of some care-home and nursing-home companies? 
Isn't it odd that being a politician requires absolutely no qualifications at all and now it woukd also appear that Ministers are the same. It must be the highest paid non-skilled job in the country!
LJ
I note that the Right Honorable Mr Fallon has, as Fox 3 noted, had his hand in the till. Should be good for all of those JPA claims then!
From Wikipedia:
According to one newspaper, Mr Fallon, the deputy chairman of the Treasury select committee, claimed for the mortgage repayments on his Westminster flat in their entirety. MPs are only allowed to claim for interest charges.
Between 2002 and 2004, Mr Fallon regularly claimed £1,255 per month in capital repayments and interest, rather than the £700-£800 for the interest component alone. After his error was noticed by staff in the Commons fees office in September 2004, he said: "Why has no one brought this to my attention before?"[citation needed] He repaid £2,200 of the over-claim, but was allowed to offset the remaining £6,100 against his allowance.
Between 2002 and 2004, Mr Fallon regularly claimed £1,255 per month in capital repayments and interest, rather than the £700-£800 for the interest component alone. After his error was noticed by staff in the Commons fees office in September 2004, he said: "Why has no one brought this to my attention before?"[citation needed] He repaid £2,200 of the over-claim, but was allowed to offset the remaining £6,100 against his allowance.
Isn't it odd that being a politician requires absolutely no qualifications at all and now it woukd also appear that Ministers are the same. It must be the highest paid non-skilled job in the country!
LJ
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"...another career politician.." Who were up you expecting, Leon, a lollipop lady?
I've no idea whether he'll be any good but if you're implying previous military service is essential, bear in mind some of our most disastrous Defence Secs have been so qualified. Dennis Healey for instance, late of the Royal Engineers pretty much dismantled the Services on his watch. Not just the high profile scrappings of most of our carriers, TSR2 and the F111, but a thorough neglect of the basics. He left our submarines to all intents unarmed, with torpedoes capable of less than half the speed of Russian subs.
I've no idea whether he'll be any good but if you're implying previous military service is essential, bear in mind some of our most disastrous Defence Secs have been so qualified. Dennis Healey for instance, late of the Royal Engineers pretty much dismantled the Services on his watch. Not just the high profile scrappings of most of our carriers, TSR2 and the F111, but a thorough neglect of the basics. He left our submarines to all intents unarmed, with torpedoes capable of less than half the speed of Russian subs.
Shotone
Off of the top of my head:
IDS - who was a a Guards Officer for 6 years.
Dr Fox - who was a GP and Army Medical Officer.
Theresa Villiers - a Barrister.
Chris Grayling - a successful career in the broadcasting industry.
As I see it, there are those that have cut a career before becoming an MP, and then there are those that have coasted into politics via a PPE, history or economica degree and stayed put ever since - the latter being career politicians. I don't trust career politicians as they will say anything to keep their chosen careers alive - they have no backup careers to fall back on if they don't get elected!
Just my opinion, of course!
LJ
Off of the top of my head:
IDS - who was a a Guards Officer for 6 years.
Dr Fox - who was a GP and Army Medical Officer.
Theresa Villiers - a Barrister.
Chris Grayling - a successful career in the broadcasting industry.
As I see it, there are those that have cut a career before becoming an MP, and then there are those that have coasted into politics via a PPE, history or economica degree and stayed put ever since - the latter being career politicians. I don't trust career politicians as they will say anything to keep their chosen careers alive - they have no backup careers to fall back on if they don't get elected!
Just my opinion, of course!
LJ
Interesting to get someone with business and financial experience dealing with BAE et al - plus he's recently been picking up the pieces after the defence industry as Minister for Portsmouth. I can't work out whether that background will make him sympathetic to the big defence contractors...
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While no doubt a distinguished gent, can you really describe MacMillan as "a fine SOS" when he was in post for less than a year, Leon? One might also add to your list Lt Col Duncan Sandys, who in the 1950's declared the days of the manned fighter to be over and by the by shut down much of the UK aerospace industry. And perhaps the name of Brigadier John Profumo rings a bell, though not for the right reasons?
The point is, most of the current candidates are well into their 50's or older. How relevant is what they were doing as 20 year olds? I suggest that a military link on the CV is no guarantee they'll be a great SoS thirty years later.
The point is, most of the current candidates are well into their 50's or older. How relevant is what they were doing as 20 year olds? I suggest that a military link on the CV is no guarantee they'll be a great SoS thirty years later.
Shotone
I think you're missing the thrust of my argument. I don't trust career politicians and never will. Indeed the worst, in my opinion, are the 'champagne socialist' career politicians like comrades Milliband and Balls - like all career politicos they will say anything to save their careers.
Finally, I have no doubt there are people with military backgrounds that have been poor SoSs, but I don't believe it is a clean sweep as you would suggest. If ai look at your example of Mr Sandys, yes his name was on the report but which idiots in the ministry advised him? Furthermore, I wouldn't expect a Lt Col to be SQEP to lead on the missile vs aircraft debate! (Which is kind of my point). However, going back to my main thrust about career politicians, I believe we would fair a lot better with SQEP politicians - at least they would be a little more in touch with the real world, which seems to be the main complaint of the population these days and why Mr Farage did so well in the Euros.
LJ
I think you're missing the thrust of my argument. I don't trust career politicians and never will. Indeed the worst, in my opinion, are the 'champagne socialist' career politicians like comrades Milliband and Balls - like all career politicos they will say anything to save their careers.
Finally, I have no doubt there are people with military backgrounds that have been poor SoSs, but I don't believe it is a clean sweep as you would suggest. If ai look at your example of Mr Sandys, yes his name was on the report but which idiots in the ministry advised him? Furthermore, I wouldn't expect a Lt Col to be SQEP to lead on the missile vs aircraft debate! (Which is kind of my point). However, going back to my main thrust about career politicians, I believe we would fair a lot better with SQEP politicians - at least they would be a little more in touch with the real world, which seems to be the main complaint of the population these days and why Mr Farage did so well in the Euros.
LJ
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May I suggest that a military background would be a positive disadvantage to being SoS? The individual would have experienced only one part of the entire military family and could therefore, perhaps, favour one facet of the military over another simply because of their background and not on the facts presented at the time. One only has to read PPrunE to see the differing opinions expressed on a topic - often based upon the branch that the contributor had served in. (I would hate to use the ex-MPA chaps as an example here, but you see what I mean). Yes, military experience for one in Government is no bad thing but the SoS for Defence has to have an open mind and a blank canvas.
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Ideally I would prefer someone in a Ministerial position to have some grounding in that area. One aspect that an ex-military background brings which has to be a positive in any S of S or Minister for that matter, is that the military are taught Leadership.
Frankly, leadership and the realisation that they are responsible for their actions are both sadly lacking in a great number of our Ministers.
Not that I am saying that all MPs should be ex military but at least they have been leaders in their professional lives. Not sure if a PPE, History or Economics degree provides the same grounding.
Frankly, leadership and the realisation that they are responsible for their actions are both sadly lacking in a great number of our Ministers.
Not that I am saying that all MPs should be ex military but at least they have been leaders in their professional lives. Not sure if a PPE, History or Economics degree provides the same grounding.
the big issue for Fallon is the prep/writing the 2015 SDSR - the rest is just miniscule stuff.
LRMPA/MMA, Nukes, land force and maritime capability for the next 20 years - these are political/societal issues, not something that 4 years as a JO 35 years ago is going to help decide...
LRMPA/MMA, Nukes, land force and maritime capability for the next 20 years - these are political/societal issues, not something that 4 years as a JO 35 years ago is going to help decide...