‘Ex-Army chief Gen Sir Richard Dannatt has been accused of a "terrifying misjudgement" in agreeing while still in service to be a Tory adviser.’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8407190.stm
"Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown told BBC Question Time the appointment had broken the convention that the military should be independent of politics."
I agree with what Paddy Pantsdown said on QT. The military should be independent of political parties. It is a decision he should have made when he had retired not whilst still serving out his time in the amry. It was a politically motivated move on camerons part, around the same time The Sun swapped political sides. It’s all aload of tory spin.
December 15th, 2009 at 3:47 am
Lol, the blue bloods are probably paranoid about civil resurgence at this point.
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December 15th, 2009 at 3:55 am
I agree with what Paddy Pantsdown said on QT. The military should be independent of political parties. It is a decision he should have made when he had retired not whilst still serving out his time in the amry. It was a politically motivated move on camerons part, around the same time The Sun swapped political sides. It’s all aload of tory spin.
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December 15th, 2009 at 4:41 am
The armed forces should be seen as having no political biase, so Lord Ashdown was quite correct. I remember when it was announced at one of the parties conferences and one of the Tories said it was electioneering, until of course he found out he was joining their party and not Labours, then he was o.k. with it.
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December 15th, 2009 at 5:13 am
No, they shouldn’t. Not even if they are politically active for the ruling party. In point of fact which party they are working for should be completely irrelevant. They shouldn’t be politically active for any party.
I completely agree with Paddy Ashdown. Politics and military simply should not mix. He himself did not get involved in politics until he had left the forces and there is absolutely no need for Richard Dannatt to do anything differently.
If he fancies being involved in politics, he can resign his commision. But it’s unlikely he’ll do that, since that would impact on his fairly enormous pension packet.
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December 15th, 2009 at 5:45 am
In an ideal world neither the police nor the Armed Forces should become the political tool of one political party. Dannat is guilty of misjudgement in this instance just as Boris Johnson was guilty of political misjudgement and bias in getting rid of Commissioner Blair from the Met on the grounds he had lost confidence in him.
Neither Blair nor Dannat are exactly guiltless when it comes to political misjudgements but when senior members of any political party seek to influence the internal politics of institutions that traditionally have been viewed as above politics then alarm bells should start to ring.
However, the idea that both institutions are politically neutral is something of a myth as is witnessed by successive governments’ use of both as strikebreakers in industrial disputes.
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December 15th, 2009 at 6:02 am
In a word – no.
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ex-Brit infantry 23 yrs 274 days.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:31 am
Sometimes YES, I think it is quite necessary. Sir Richard Dannatt spoke out many times against the lack of equipment and support given to his troopers when he was serving and often said ‘controversial’ things and strode across political boundaries. I like that in a person, someone that speaks their mind – for once, and speaks the TRUTH. And It was highly rumoured that he would join the Tories on his retirement anyway as this newspaper link proves. When in such a position, it must be extremely difficult to suppress your political leanings.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1207519/Labour-cowards-trying-smear-hero-Army-chief-Dannatt.html
You know, when you’re in charge and your people are getting blown up and shot, many due to a lack of equipment thanks to this shite govt, it must be extremely hard to bite ones tongue and stay politically neutral. I support this great general, he is a man of honour, and he is one of Britain’s most highly decorated soldiers. He’s been there, seen it, done it! If he were leader of the Conservatives, he would even get my vote as he stands.
Paddy Pantsdown (former British marine) can criticise though can’t he? I love the way that he keeps side-lining and interrupting Dannat’s replay to his Q…. a typical lack of tact employed these days by the morons in politics. Though I’m no real Tory supporter, I have a great deal of respect for the former General. He is like a breath of fresh air that we now need in politics. Good luck to him.
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December 15th, 2009 at 7:19 am
They certainly shouldn’t.
For one thing, it can’t help but call into question Gen. Dannat’s motives in highlighting the shortfalls in support for our forces, even though I don’t personally really doubt his sincerity in speaking up about them when he did. It just makes it look bad.
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