Scott
09-07-2009, 08:41 AM
THE Queen has vented her anger over the Army equipment crisis directly with No10, it was claimed last night.
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/StonedSOD/SNN0707AX-682_882953a.jpg
Her intervention came as fears were expressed over the safety of ANOTHER vehicle being sent to Our Boys in Afghanistan.
Internationally-respected historian Andrew Roberts says the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles are up in arms over the failure to provide Our Boys with bomb-proof vehicles and enough helicopters.
He said: "They are all furious with Gordon Brown over sub-standard equipment in Helmand.
"It is principally the under-armoured armoured cars and the lack of helicopters, and they have been making their views known to him in no uncertain terms."
Last night both Downing Street and Buckingham Palace officially refused to comment on Mr Roberts' allegations - which came as the Prime Minister spent the traditional weekend with The Queen at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.
Sources denied the claims, but Mr Roberts insisted the Queen's intervention had helped sharpen both Downing Street and the MoD's focus on the war.
The Royal Family's fury at the Premier's handling of the crisis is a huge embarrassment. He has already been stung by The Sun's "Don't You Know There's A Bloody War On?" campaign.
And to add to Mr Brown's woes, fears have been raised over a £7million fleet of off-road Army vehicles set to be flown to Afghanistan next month. A military source said that despite being passed fit for use, there had been "real problems" with steering during testing of the Springer vehicle, pictured right.
Mr Brown, meanwhile, last night called on world leaders to attend a huge Afghanistan War summit. It will focus on sending MORE Nato troops into the country and involve plans to BEEF UP the Afghan Army so Our Boys can return home sooner.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also called for the summit.
Some insiders claimed it could even be held in the Afghan capital Kabul - but was more likely to take place in London.
Mr Brown was also facing calls to set up a Churchill-style War Cabinet to ensure British troops get proper treatment. Experts believe it would ensure the Government's number one focus is the Afghanistan campaign.
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/StonedSOD/SNN0707B-180_882956a.jpg
They say a Cabinet group could rip up the rule book and ensure vital equipment is made and delivered to Our Boys on time.
Colonel Richard Kemp, commander of British Forces in Afghanistan in 2003, said: "We need a War Cabinet which has the power to get things done."
Action . . . Merkel
Action . . . Merkel
Meanwhile, the Tories are planning a massive shake-up of Britain's military.
Top brass in the Army, RAF and Royal Navy will all be cut back to make room for more junior ranks.
And the shocking size of the MoD's civilian staff will be slashed.
Tory defence spokesman Liam Fox will today pledge to make the sweeping changes. He will point out the nation currently pays for ONE civilian in the MoD for every TWO uniformed members of the Armed Forces. And he will remind the nation it pays for 28,000 officials to buy equipment - when the Royal Navy only has 34,000 serving sailors and commandos.
Mr Fox will say: "It is time for the MoD to get its house in order. There are questions for all three services as to whether they have an over-abundance of senior posts.
"There are almost the same number of civilians in the MoD as there are personnel serving in the Army. We must stop the trend where the military seems consistently to shrink while the civil service keeps growing."
It has also been revealed Britain's military postal service is to be axed in Belgium, France, Italy and parts of America.
Servicemen and women and their families will have to rely on local national post offices instead. Tory MP Ben Wallace said: "The BFPO has a proud and brave history of making sure the post always gets through.
"This government is cutting away at the life blood of our brave heroes' morale."
The concern over the 40mph Springer buggies came during tests at the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield, Yorks.
Seventy of the two-seater buggies have been bought to help transport casualties between helipads and bases.
They will also deliver vital gear to frontline troops.
One tester of the Springer said the vehicle needed bigger rear tyres and more power. And a senior military source told The Sun the teething problems were worrying.
He said: "We have a real problem with the Springer.
"This is meant to be a tough go-anywhere vehicle capable of high speed over rugged ground. To have steering columns damaged by a few bad bumps in Yorkshire is of some considerable concern."
The MoD said the claims would NOT affect the deployment of the vehicles with 11 Light Brigade in October.
A spokesman said: "There have been no reports of problems with the vehicle.
"Springer has successfully passed its trials with the Army, has been declared fit for purpose and is going into service."
Source - The Sun.
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/StonedSOD/SNN0707AX-682_882953a.jpg
Her intervention came as fears were expressed over the safety of ANOTHER vehicle being sent to Our Boys in Afghanistan.
Internationally-respected historian Andrew Roberts says the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles are up in arms over the failure to provide Our Boys with bomb-proof vehicles and enough helicopters.
He said: "They are all furious with Gordon Brown over sub-standard equipment in Helmand.
"It is principally the under-armoured armoured cars and the lack of helicopters, and they have been making their views known to him in no uncertain terms."
Last night both Downing Street and Buckingham Palace officially refused to comment on Mr Roberts' allegations - which came as the Prime Minister spent the traditional weekend with The Queen at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.
Sources denied the claims, but Mr Roberts insisted the Queen's intervention had helped sharpen both Downing Street and the MoD's focus on the war.
The Royal Family's fury at the Premier's handling of the crisis is a huge embarrassment. He has already been stung by The Sun's "Don't You Know There's A Bloody War On?" campaign.
And to add to Mr Brown's woes, fears have been raised over a £7million fleet of off-road Army vehicles set to be flown to Afghanistan next month. A military source said that despite being passed fit for use, there had been "real problems" with steering during testing of the Springer vehicle, pictured right.
Mr Brown, meanwhile, last night called on world leaders to attend a huge Afghanistan War summit. It will focus on sending MORE Nato troops into the country and involve plans to BEEF UP the Afghan Army so Our Boys can return home sooner.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also called for the summit.
Some insiders claimed it could even be held in the Afghan capital Kabul - but was more likely to take place in London.
Mr Brown was also facing calls to set up a Churchill-style War Cabinet to ensure British troops get proper treatment. Experts believe it would ensure the Government's number one focus is the Afghanistan campaign.
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/StonedSOD/SNN0707B-180_882956a.jpg
They say a Cabinet group could rip up the rule book and ensure vital equipment is made and delivered to Our Boys on time.
Colonel Richard Kemp, commander of British Forces in Afghanistan in 2003, said: "We need a War Cabinet which has the power to get things done."
Action . . . Merkel
Action . . . Merkel
Meanwhile, the Tories are planning a massive shake-up of Britain's military.
Top brass in the Army, RAF and Royal Navy will all be cut back to make room for more junior ranks.
And the shocking size of the MoD's civilian staff will be slashed.
Tory defence spokesman Liam Fox will today pledge to make the sweeping changes. He will point out the nation currently pays for ONE civilian in the MoD for every TWO uniformed members of the Armed Forces. And he will remind the nation it pays for 28,000 officials to buy equipment - when the Royal Navy only has 34,000 serving sailors and commandos.
Mr Fox will say: "It is time for the MoD to get its house in order. There are questions for all three services as to whether they have an over-abundance of senior posts.
"There are almost the same number of civilians in the MoD as there are personnel serving in the Army. We must stop the trend where the military seems consistently to shrink while the civil service keeps growing."
It has also been revealed Britain's military postal service is to be axed in Belgium, France, Italy and parts of America.
Servicemen and women and their families will have to rely on local national post offices instead. Tory MP Ben Wallace said: "The BFPO has a proud and brave history of making sure the post always gets through.
"This government is cutting away at the life blood of our brave heroes' morale."
The concern over the 40mph Springer buggies came during tests at the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield, Yorks.
Seventy of the two-seater buggies have been bought to help transport casualties between helipads and bases.
They will also deliver vital gear to frontline troops.
One tester of the Springer said the vehicle needed bigger rear tyres and more power. And a senior military source told The Sun the teething problems were worrying.
He said: "We have a real problem with the Springer.
"This is meant to be a tough go-anywhere vehicle capable of high speed over rugged ground. To have steering columns damaged by a few bad bumps in Yorkshire is of some considerable concern."
The MoD said the claims would NOT affect the deployment of the vehicles with 11 Light Brigade in October.
A spokesman said: "There have been no reports of problems with the vehicle.
"Springer has successfully passed its trials with the Army, has been declared fit for purpose and is going into service."
Source - The Sun.