Clegg pledge to halve number of admirals
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg believes the Royal Navy can halve the number of admirals in the Senior Service.
Speaking exclusively to The News, Mr Clegg, who in the past fortnight has seen his party's approval ratings shoot up, admitted he shared fears held in our region that budgetary shortfalls could see frontline navy jobs slashed to save cash.
But he spelled out plans he believes will enable the MoD to cut its 6bn budget shortfall, with navy chiefs in the firing line.
He said: 'I admire and want to support everyone who works selflessly in the armed services, but it's hard to work out how to support people on the front line when money is tight.
'We have to ask why there are around 800 civil servants doing communications for the MoD and why there are two admirals for every ship in the navy. We don't need more than one per ship.
'There's too much money tied up in projects we don't need, and in the wages of the top brass.
'We can take that money to support those who work in Portsmouth.'
Mr Clegg also promised his party will safeguard the two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, on which many jobs in The News' region depend.
He said: 'I have very strong feelings about the carriers.
'I have visited Portsmouth and I know how important its naval tradition is.
'The carriers are essential to the future of the UK military and its ability to extend its reach across the world.
'Even in a full military review, the carriers will be safe.
'They'll both be built and they'll be based in Portsmouth.'
Mr Clegg said the carriers, which have risen in cost from 3.9bn to 5bn since 2007, would be funded by scrapping plans to replace Trident, which would cost 100bn, and pulling out of the third tranche of the Eurofighter project.
But his proposals have been criticised by armed forces' campaign group the UK National Defence Association (UKNDA).
It attacked Mr Clegg's 'lack of understanding' of the navy and defence issues.
Its chief executive officer, Commander John Muxworthy, said: 'These are numerical games, which show little understanding of how a multi-billion pound company, which is what the military is, operates.
'I agree that like in many public sector areas there is operational slack which can deliver savings.
'But arguing about admiral numbers is like arguing there are too many headteachers if you have a head and deputy head at a school.
'They have similar job titles but don't do the same thing.'
On scrapping Trident Cdr Muxworthy, who served in the navy for 32 years, including on the Canberra in the Falklands War, added: 'His keenness to keep the carriers is good, but Trident is about our standing in the world.
'It's hard to see how we can remain on the UN Security Council without a nuclear deterrent.
'I'm not attacking the Lib Dems. Money can be saved.
'But perhaps they don't have the experience of the other parties.
'That could come if they got into power.'
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Friday 25 May 2012
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