In the Government’s statement on Deepcut today  it claims that ministers ‘do not believe there is any wider public or Service interest in pursuing’ a public inquiry.

However I believe that there are still a number of significant questions which remain unanswered about the events at Deepcut barracks. 
 
These issues have not gone away, and will not go away until we have had a full public inquiry into what happened.

The Government must stop dragging its feet and take action to ensure we get to the bottom of these tragic events.

Commenting after the vote defeating the Government on rules restricting retired Gurkhas living in this country, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:

“This is a historic victory for the Gurkhas who have served our country so bravely.

“This Government has now lost its moral authority. From the first moment I challenged Gordon Brown on this over a year ago, he didn’t understand that there was a simple moral principle at stake.

“People who are willing to die for our country, should be allowed to live in our country. Read more »

As the MoD announces its new strategy for reserves, Liberal Democrat research has shown that the UK’s reserve forces are still deployed at twice the level that they were before the invasion of Iraq.

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

“Our reserves are working at twice the level they were before the invasion of Iraq. The minister is fooling no one when he claims that reserves are not being used to plug gaps in our overstretched full-time forces. Read more »

As British troops handed Basra over to American control at the end of March, we were left to reflect on just what has been achieved by the six years of British control. A fledgling democracy has been established and there is no doubt that Basra’s Shia population are glad to no longer be under Saddam’s iron fist. However, worries remain. Basra is still impoverished and in desperate need of essential services such as electricity, water and sewage treatment. Since the height of the insurgency, the security situation has doubtless improved and violence has decreased sharply throughout Southern Iraq; but the fact that the American military will move into the void left by the British departure casts a shadow over claims by Downing Street and Whitehall that the job has been done. Read more »

Commenting on the increasing pressure on NATO allies to contribute more to the mission in Afghanistan, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:

“While an increase in the number of troops in Afghanistan is needed, greater civilian support is equally vital.

“We will not get anywhere if we view the mission in Afghanistan as simply an issue of boots on the ground. Read more »

Commenting on the handover of command in Basra from British to US troops, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said:

“It must be a huge relief for our forces that the end of this disastrous conflict is at last in sight.

“Our troops’ outstanding courage in Iraq has been matched only by the incompetence of the political leadership which took them there. Read more »