Anger at cuts which left no ships guarding Britain
HMS Portland was the last designated Fleet Ready Escort
DEFENCE secretary Philip Hammond has been called on to explain why Britain has been left without a single warship to protect the country’s shores for the last four weeks.
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy reacted with fury yesterday after The News revealed military cuts and the war in Libya had created a gap in Britain’s home defences.
He said: ‘This proves Labour’s arguments that cuts made in the defence review and unforeseen events around the world have limited Britain’s capacity to act militarily.
‘The country will be expecting a response from the new defence secretary.’
The Royal Navy normally provides a minimum coverage of one frigate or destroyer fulfilling the role of Fleet Ready Escort (FRE).
The ship must be at high readiness for an emergency, including a terrorist attack, in UK waters or abroad, or a search and rescue operation.
However, pressures on the Royal Navy caused by cuts to its fleet in last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review, as well as its commitments to the Nato mission to Libya, has left it unable to fill the role since the start of October.
A navy spokesman confirmed yesterday that the next FRE would be formally notified on November 7 – more than four weeks after the last FRE left the post.
He added that if an FRE ship was required urgently prior to that she would be nominated immediately.
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wizard of oz
Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 04:29 PMHe was getting old and paunchy And his hair was falling fast, And he sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past....... Of a war that he once fought in And the deeds that he had done, In his exploits with his buddies; They were heroes, every one...... And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors His tales became a joke, All his buddies listened quietly For they knew where of he spoke...... But we'll hear his tales no longer, For ol' Joe has passed away, And the world's a little poorer For a Soldier died today....... He won't be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife. For he lived an ordinary, Very quiet sort of life....... He held a job and raised a family, Going quietly on his way; And the world won't note his passing, 'Tho a Soldier died today....... When politicians leave this earth, Their bodies lie in state, While thousands note their passing, And proclaim that they were great....... Papers tell of their life stories From the time that they were young But the passing of a Soldier Goes unnoticed, and unsung....... Is the greatest contribution To the welfare of our land, Some jerk who breaks his promise And cons his fellow man?....... Or the ordinary fellow Who in times of war and strife, Goes off to serve his country And offers up his life?....... The politician's stipend And the style in which he lives, Are often disproportionate, To the service that he gives........ While the ordinary Soldier, Who offered up his all, Is paid off with a medal And perhaps a pension, small....... It is not the politicians With their compromise and ploys, Who won for us the freedom That our country now enjoys....... Should you find yourself in danger, With your enemies at hand, Would you really want some cop-out, With his ever waffling stand?...... Or would you want a Soldier-- His home, his country, his kin, Just a common Soldier, Who would fight until the end....... He was just a common Soldier, And his ranks are growing thin, But his presence should remind us We may need his likes again........ For when countries are in conflict, We find the Soldier's part Is to clean up all the troubles That the politicians start....... If we cannot do him honor While he's here to hear the praise, Then at least let's give him homage At the ending of his days........ Perhaps just a simple headline In the paper that might say: "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
Yocal
Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 09:37 AMTroutbridge said: "Tony and Gordon did their very best to wipe out UK manufacturing, well they were in love with the bankers and City of London"--------------- Thatcher started that craze and FYI it has been capitalism and free trade that has made it difficult to manufacture in the UK, along with changes in technology. Thatcher started the ball rolling by insisting that the UK should focus on services. She encouraged the growth in financial services that led to the problems we have today. Everyone (accept you apparently) acknowledges that Blair continued what Thatcher started. If the blame is to be pointed anywhere, then it is some 50 years of switching between Labour and Conservative governments. These political parties are not supported by the majority of people, they are supported by crazed ideologists, who have killed democracy and pushed people away from voting because their ideas have not moved on to todays age.
Yocal
Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 09:18 AMHMS Troutbridge do you have no shame in suggesting personal and individual experiences should influence national policy that will have an impact on 60 million plus people? Here you go on about the nation and how to manage 60 million people, all of which have different ideas. Yet you seem to think that individual personal stories should determine the fate of those people. The problem with the UK and most of the world is the fact that much of it is dependent on two redundant political ideologies (tribes).
Tman
Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 07:59 AMStrange reply. No shame in listing Thatcher's many errors, mistakes and cover-ups. In fact, it's been a national pastime or years.....
Liebour 1997-2010
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 06:31 PMThats it Tman , hang your head in shame.
Tman
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 06:01 PMI don't know what's sadder, Diamond's (probably intentional) misunderstanding of a point allowing him to go off on a "you're so ignorant" track, or Troutie's selective historical memory regarding past events. Still, it fills the empty space at the bottom of the News letters page, I suppose.
Liebour 1997-2010
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 05:24 PMdiamond8080 I am sorry to hear about your uncle. I was sent to the Falklands in 1982, all of us thought it was the right thing to do and fully supported our Government in its decision. War is terrible especially for those involved, I didnt see any glory in war just pain and agony. But sometimes things are worth fighting for and pay ultimate sacrifice and thank God they are so we can live in peace and freedom.
Liebour 1997-2010
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 05:23 PMdiamond8080 I am sorry to hear about your uncle. I was sent to the Falklands in 1982, all of us thought it was the right thing to do and fully supported our Government in its decision. War is terrible especially for those involved, I didnt see any glory in war just pain and agony. But sometimes things are worth fighting for and pay ultimate sacrifice and thank God they are so we can live in peace and freedom.
Liebour 1997-2010
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 04:36 PMThe sad fact is Tman that Blair and Brown destroyed more manufacturing jobs than Thatcher. Under Labour manufacturing jobs fell to just 11% of the work force, down from 19% in 1997. You could say well that just the way it was at the time with globalisation and all that but in Germany it only fell from 21% to 20% over the same period, they supported their manufacturing base. Tony and Gordon did their very best to wipe out UK manufacturing, well they were in love with the bankers and City of London and had plenty of slogans such as British jobs for British workers, which in reality meant nothing just the rest of Labour policies..
diamond8080
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 04:30 PMTman you are the most ill ignorant person I have ever read on this site. The fact that you need to use dead brave servicemen to enforce your arguement proves that are a complete and utter moron. My uncle was one of those men Mrs Thatcher "sent to their death" but if he was alive now in sure he would not blame the prime minister of the day, he was a brave man serving his country and proud to do so. The problem with modern day England is not the legacy of the Thatcher government, it is the fact that the country is full of cretins like you.
Tman
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 04:03 PMThe good old "Strawman" debating tactic then. Move it onto Scargill and the NUM as Thatcher's policies were and are indefensible? Scargill, fool that he was, was just a convenient patsy for Thatcher, and he fell into her trap, but it wasn't Scargill who famously said "society is dead" and presided over the mass destruction of thr UK manufacturing base, or sucked up to Pinochet and Reagan, or the Westland Helicopter fiasco, or Black Wednesday, or the cheap sell off of BT etc, or over-saw the BL demise, and NVT's destruction.....how much more do you want? Thought you'd have a little less support for the stupid woman, as her and Carrington effectively sent your ship-mates to thier deaths in the South Atlantic.
Liebour 1997-2010
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 03:48 PMThe Thatcher government like it or not was elected by the citizens of the UK in 1979, 1983 and 1987. They had the democratic mandate to run the country, not the NUM. In fact NUM wouldnt even offer its own members a vote on strike action. With regards to NUM policy on mining it was that no mine could be closed for economic reasons, as long as coal was in the ground it had to be extracted no matter the cost. I think most would think that was unreasonable. No one wanted the coal too dirty to expensive, that is the harsh economic reality. Why would Scargill want a free luxury apartment in the City of London????? Not many coal mines in the City.
Tman
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 03:02 PMAhh, so Scargill being the pure a*** that he is then means that Thatcher was somehow OK? Bizarre logic. So the revisionist tactic now is to say that all the varieties of UK-produced coal were no good due to the sulphur content, and therefore mine closures were inevitable? It gets better and better, but sadly less truthful....
Liebour 1997-2010
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 01:54 PMTman please accept my apology for my poor grammar. The miners strike of 1984-85 was a political attempt to bring down the democratic government, it failed and so did the UK mining industry. No one wanted the most expensive high sulphur coal in the world being produced by our mines. So victory for a market economy and the environment. The NUM should have help organisean orderly run down of UK mining industry, better for the miners better for the economy. I met Scargil outside his luxury apartment in the City of London, given to him free by the NUM. he was shouting at his wife at the time.
Yocal
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 01:24 PMInstead of asking for more ships, tanks etc. How about accepting we have a smaller role globally and get less involved in international conflicts. Focus on piracy and policing. The main people that want big armies and involvement in conflicts are the political ideologists who are just interested in maintaining the unsustainable.
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