Events | 2010.03.07
Tories accuse Gordon Brown of using armed forces as political props
Downing Street denies Helmand visit was an attempt to divert focus from prime minister\'s testimony at the Chilcot inquiry
Gordon Brown was embroiled in a furious row when former prime minister John Major accused him of using British troops as a "party political prop" on a surprise visit to thank soldiers in Afghanistan. Major condemned Brown\'s decision and said he had orchestrated a "cynically-timed political stunt".
Giving a speech in Ipswich, he drew parallels with Brown\'s 2007 visit to Iraq, when he was considering calling a snap election. "Once again, the prime minister is using the armed forces as a party political prop," Major said. "Two years ago, he did so on the eve of the election that never was, and is now doing so again on the eve of the election that he cannot avoid.
"Yesterday, the prime minister told the Chilcot inquiry that our troops were given \'everything they asked for\'. Few people believe that. Today – less than 24 hours later – the prime minister arrives in Afghanistan with yet more promises of equipment that should have been available a long time ago. Nine years, and far too many fatalities later, the troops – and the families of those who have perished – could be forgiven for believing the prime minister\'s visit is yet another political stunt. Of course ministers should visit our troops. But to use them as a cynically-timed pre-election backdrop is profoundly unbecoming conduct for a prime minister."
The Conservatives claimed the visit had been timed to divert attention from Brown\'s appearance before the Chilcot inquiry a day earlier.
"Gordon Brown should apologise for, as prime minister, using the armed forces as political props when politically convenient," said an email sent by an aide of Liam Fox, the shadow defence minister, to journalists travelling with Brown.
Brown appeared before the Iraq war inquiry on Friday, denying accusations that as chancellor he had failed to provide adequate funding for equipment.
Yesterday, former heads of the armed forces strongly disputed his evidence. Lord Guthrie, a former chief of the defence staff, stated in the Daily Telegraph that armed forces had been denied a request for more helicopters, while his successor, Lord Boyce, told the Times that Brown had been "disingenuous".
The Liberal Democrats said that the inquiry\'s chairman, Sir John Chilcot, should publish Treasury documents to clear up the row.
The email from Fox\'s office accused Brown of cynical timing, of failing to provide resources and equipment, and of treating forces with contempt. But a Downing Street spokesman said: "In a desperate attempt to divert attention from their mess over Lord Ashcroft, this spurious nonsense demeans the Conservative party."
Aides pointed out that Brown has been to Afghanistan at regular intervals, and a visit in March or April was not unusual.
The spokesman added: "Would the Tories prefer it if the prime minister didn\'t thank our armed forces for their efforts in Operation Moshtarak?"
The operation, which was launched on 13 February , was the largest UK-led helicopter insertion in history, with 37 used to lift 1,200 Afghan and British soldiers into 16 locations. It is still continuing but has now entered the stabilisation phase, with teams moving in to work on infrastructure, schools and health clinics.
Prime minister in Afghanistan
Speaking at Camp Bastion, the British base in Helmand province, Brown insisted that he had been planning the visit for some time. "The last four years, I have come here around this time just to meet the troops, to see what progress has been made. I am here as prime minister to thank our troops… for their bravery, sacrifice and professionalism." From there, he flew by helicopter to the province\'s capital, Lashkar Gah, to address more than 100 troops. Standing on a platform in front of a memorial to fallen soldiers, Brown told them that the British people were proud of what they had achieved.
"Three weeks ago, you started an operation that included thousands of people in an attempt to reclaim ground we needed for the local population," the prime minister said.
Describing Moshtarak as "one of the great success stories of the campaign", he said: "I want to express my gratitude to all of you who have been involved. We remember all those who have given their lives in these last few months. All of you will know people involved and families who have suffered. I also want to remember all those who have been injured."
Brown added: "We will do everything we can to support you with the equipment necessary and the resources that you need."
The prime minister also said that killing Taliban fighters on the ground in Afghanistan was making life safer for those at home in Britain.
Brown said he was in the country to witness the "Afghanisation" of the process, which would see Afghan troops and police take over security. He said the eventual aim was for British troops to come home, but he would not set a timetable. "This transition must be task led, not time led," he said.
Increased spending on military
During the trip, it emerged that 200 new armoured vehicles will be introduced in late 2011 to replace the controversial Snatch Land Rovers, which have been linked to 36 deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Ocelot light protected patrol vehicles will cost more than £100m, which would be funded separately as an "urgent operational requirement" from Treasury reserves. The vehicles are said to have "unprecedented" protection for their weight.
For more information, please visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar[...]n-brown-troops-political-props
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