Campaign News

Andrew Marr is to interview Sir Jock Stirrup on Sunday morning 8 Nov. The BBC are requesting questions from viewers for Sir Jock here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8345429.stm

A chance to ask about the broken Military Covenant and a role the NDM could play in help fixing it?

Three members of the UK armed forces have been hospitalised following an incident in the Falkland Islands, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The incident took place on 27 October and the three, reportedly soldiers, were immediately airlifted to King Edward Hospital in Stanley.

One of the casualties - reportedly from the Royal Regiment of Scotland - is being medically evacuated to the UK, he is said to be in a serious condition. 

The Daily Telegraph said they were shot during a live firing training session.

The three are reported to have been hit by automatic fire during a platoon live firing training practice session on the Onion Range, land which is used for training by the Army and located on a remote part of East Falkland island.

Companies are regularly posted to the islands for protection duties and training.

The MoD has also said that the soldiers' next of kin have been informed and an investigation is ongoing.

It reminds us all of the daily risks of service life.  The Falklands is still classed as an operational tour.  More

Former Army chief Gen Sir Richard Dannatt is to become a defence adviser to the Tories.

He is expected to be given a seat in the House of Lords, with an announcement expected on Thursday.

But reports that the general may become a minister in a future Tory government have been played down.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8294670.stm

The Repatriation of Private James Prosser of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh will take place on – Thursday, 1st October, 2009

Flypast over Wootton Bassett 11:00 hours

Family Service Starts 12:00 hours

Cortege is expected to leave

RAF Lyneham at about 13:00 hours +/- 30 minutes

Wootton Bassett 13:15 hours +/- 30 minutes

Gable Cross Police Station (A420) 13:40 hours +/- 30 minutes

UK Defence Academy (A420) 13:45 hours +/- 30 minutes

Folly Lay-by (A420)` 13:55 hours +/- 30 minutes

John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford) 14:25 hours +/- 30 minutes

Regards

Blondie (RMA Poole)

The Repatriation on Thursday, 10th September of Lance Corporal Richard Brandon, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and Private Gavin Elliott of the Mercian Regiment will take place on – Thursday, 10th September, 2009

Flypast over Wootton Bassett 11:00 hours

Family Service Starts 12:00 hours

Cortege is expected to leave

RAF Lyneham at 13:00 hours +/- 30 minutes

Wootton Bassett 13:10 hours +/- 30 minutes

Gable Cross Police Station (A420) 13:40 hours +/- 30 minutes

UK Defence Academy (A420) 13:45 hours +/- 30 minutes

Folly Lay-by (A420) 13:55 hours +/- 30 minutes

John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford) 14:25 hours +/- 30 minutes

Blondie (RMA)

RAF Lyneham have contacted us to give provisional notification that:

The repatriation of Sergeant Stuart Millar and Private Kevin Elliott will take place on -

Friday, 4th September, 2009

Flypast over Wootton Bassett - 11:00 hours

Family Service Starts - 12:00 hours

Cortege is expected to leave RAF Lyneham - 13:00 hrs

Wootton Bassett - 13:10 hs

Gable Cross Police Station (A420) - 13:40 hrs

UK Defence Academy (A420) - 13:45 hrs

Folly Lay-by (A420) - 13:55 hrs

John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford) - 14:25 hrs

All timings +/- 30 minutes

Blondie (On behalf of the Royal Marines Association)

How low can any government stoop? Yesterday, we were given a good indication.

The story of John Salisbury-Baker, the civil servant who says he was deliberately ordered by his superiors to mislead grieving relatives of war dead about the safety of equipment issued to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been greeted with understandable incredulity.

How could any public official be instructed to lie about such things? How could ministers bully the Civil Service into doing their political dirty work for them?

More

Gordon Brown was accused on Wednesday night of trying to suppress a report showing that the Ministry of Defence is letting down British troops by squandering £2.5billion a year on the wrong equipment

The damning report into military procurement, by former MoD aide Bernard Gray, is reported to have accused the Government of wasting money which could have been spent on protecting troops abroad.

His findings were due to have been published before MPs broke up for the summer recess but their release was delayed, with the Prime Minister announcing last month that they would now form part of a further defence review.

More

Bob Ainsworth said that servicemen and women had been justified in their anger at the lack of interest in their work, from the Government and the wider population, during the war in Iraq and the early stages of the mission in Afghanistan.

In a candid interview with The Daily Telegraph, he also accepted his own intellectual limitations as a minister, but insisted he was still qualified to oversee Britain’s defence policy and national security.

Read More

New Labour has barely disguised its contempt for the military. The armed forces represent everything Labour despises about Britain - patriotism, duty, empire; loyalty to the Crown and the Regiment, not to the state.

That was why the Gurkhas were treated so shabbily for so long. They were a reminder of Brown had to be shamed into attending the recent D-Day commemorations - eventually agreeing to go when he learned that President Obama would be there.

It's only a few years since the odious Peter Mandelson - now Brown's unelected deputy and new best friend - was sneering at the Guards on Irish television, calling them 'chinless wonders' and pouring poison on that parade from the past, Trooping the Colour. Not that Labour hates all parades. The Prime Minister recently entertained the organisers of the Gay Pride march to a reception at Downing Street.

Read full article:

Still no invite for the NDM Campaign team.