Commenting on today’s statement by John Hutton on Defence Planning Assumptions, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:

“The MoD’s Defence Planning Assumptions have been operating in a parallel universe for many years now.

“This latest review is just an attempt to put a veneer of credibility on the appalling overstretch our armed forces are operating under. Read more »

Commenting on Thursday’s Public Accounts Committee report, which finds that the new MoD IT system has suffered major delays in implementation, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:

“When the Government’s terrible record on major IT projects is brought together with the MoD’s catalogue of failure on procurement, it is no surprise that we see this perfect storm of incompetence.

“For years the MoD has needed to get its act together on procurement projects from military vehicles to computers. Read more »

Today BAE Systems’ announced that it is to cut 200 UK jobs in its land systems business.

The MoD’s staggering incompetence over its armoured vehicle procurement programme now seems to be taking its toll on British jobs.

It is hard to believe that while our troops in Afghanistan are facing a crippling shortage of suitable vehicles, the jobs to make those vehicles are still being cut in the UK.

It is little wonder that the FRES vehicle programme was recently described as ‘the worst procurement programme ever’. Read more »

Commenting on an NAO report on MoD PFI projects, which finds that indecision by the Ministry has cost the taxpayer millions of pounds, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:

“At a time of tightening public finances, the MoD should be looking to save money wherever it can.

“However, this report shows that the Government’s blind faith in PFI projects is leading to millions of pounds being lost in inefficiencies. Read more »

Today the MoD came under criticism by the coroner in the inquest into the death of British solider Corporal Mark Wright in an Afghan minefield in 2006.

It is clear that the catalogue of failures recorded by the coroner is another shattering blow to the credibility of the MoD.

Coroner Andrew Walker is absolutely right to describe these shortages of basic equipment and helicopter support as shameful.Lives are being lost because of the shortage of appropriate helicopter support in Afghanistan, yet the Government’s plans for more helicopters are in confusion and disarray. Read more »

Defence Secretary John Hutton recently announced that Britain’s commitment to keep troops on standby for operations in Kosovo will finish at the end of this year.

 This is hardly surprising given the terrible strain our armed forces are under. However, it has to be asked why our long-standing commitment to Kosovo appears to be taking second place to the increasingly pointless deployment of British troops in Iraq.

I find it worrying that the Government feels we can no longer contribute troops to a NATO mission on our own doorstep because Britain’s forces are so overstretched elsewhere.