Support the troops !

[Bluntend]

There is a fair degree of debate over on ARRSE (http://www.arrse.net/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/t=32494.html) about Dr Reid's latest offering in support of UK Forces.

Anybody got any views on the what our fearless Secretary of State for Defence has to say?

The full text, for those who have access to DefenceNet is here (http://defenceintranet.diiweb.r.mil.uk/DefenceIntranet/News/DefenceNews/MOD/WeMustBeslowerToCondemnQuickerToUnderstandTheForce sJohnReid.htm)

[budgie]

Too little, too late.

[Twonston Pickle]

A nice effort but Budgie has the right sentiment. This government has been very quick to throw us to the wolves (with the complicity of our senior officers no less) but not so quick to support us financially, politically and in thought, word and deed. Having met John Reid I have a lot more respect for him than "Buff", however, he is still a politician and does not have to keep the military happy, just the voting public.

[Almost_done]

A nice effort but Budgie has the right sentiment. This government has been very quick to throw us to the wolves (with the complicity of our senior officers no less) but not so quick to support us financially, politically and in thought, word and deed. Having met John Reid I have a lot more respect for him than "Buff", however, he is still a politician and does not have to keep the military happy, just the voting public.


Aye, a nice word for once. But, remember Dr John Reid is Tonys hard man, look at the positions he has held. He is one of the most able of politicians in the Labour Party (and a Jock to boot :PDT_Xtremez_30: ).

[Martin Blank]

I was amazed the other day while reading that so called newspaper The Sun that good old Gordon Brown was giving us his all by pushing for an inflation beating 3% on forces pay. Sorry for being mister miserable but in my humble 19 years experience apart from the massive inflation busting 7% or so we got after Op Granby..... thats Gulf war 1 to you youngsters isnt 3% the norm we've been getting every year? at least we get it in a lump now and not the crap 1/2 now 1/2 6 months time:PDT_Xtremez_42:

[Twonston Pickle]

To compliment an exisiting thread, I feel it worthy of correcting a few 'urban myths' surrounding the pay award.

Gordon Brown actually gave evidence to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB - an independant body to review our pay and allowances) that our pay award should be on or just under inflation (2% approx) so as not to aggravat inflation and economic misery. The MOD gave fairly balanced evidence, although it was slightly weighted in favour of a bigger pay rise than Gordon suggested.

Gordon Brown is now taking credit for something that was not his decision and that he did not support and argued against. Typical politician.