Commenting on reports that Des Browne is seeking to prevent coroners from criticising the Ministry of Defence, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:

“This is a misjudged and ill-conceived attempt to curtail the freedom of coroners to highlight the failings of the MoD.
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The MoD spends almost quarter of a million pounds per month renting private housing for 100 members of MoD top brass and their families, figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show.

Parliamentary answers reveal:

• The 50 most expensive privately rented family homes cost the taxpayer almost £124,000 in total every month, whilst the 50 most expensive single accommodation homes cost an additional £110,000 per month.
• The MoD currently spends £30m per year on 7,000 empty family homes around the UK.
• Private family accommodation for senior officers costs up to £4,200 per family per month.
• Private individual accommodation for senior officers costs up to £3,000 per month.

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Commenting on the news that more than 11,000 military ID cards have been lost or stolen in the last two years, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey MP said:

“These figures are just extraordinary and make a mockery of the security throughout our military facilities. Read more »

Colchester Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell spent a week in Southern Afghanistan with members of Britain’s Armed Forces. Next month around 3,500 of his constituents, from 16 Air Assault Brigade based at the Colchester Garrison, will be deployed to Helmand Province. Here he gives a report of what life is like for our Service men and women:
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Commenting on the news that the cost of military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq this year has risen to more than £3 billion, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:

“This clearly shows how the Iraq war is continuing to bleed our finances dry, leaving soldiers in Afghanistan overstretched and under-equipped. Read more »

The Liberal Democrats today called for the Government to deny America the use of British bases for a unilateral ballistic missile defence system.

The party’s Spring Conference also condemned the way the Government’s decision to allow the US to use RAF Menwith Hill for the system was announced on the last day of a parliamentary session in an attempt to avoid publc scrutiny.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:

“Despite Tony Blair’s pledge that there would be a parliamentary debate on the son of star wars system, this crucial decision was smuggled out in a written statement at a time designed to get the minimum possible coverage. Read more »