ianstone
03-28-2010, 12:33 PM
From The Sunday Times
March 28, 2010
Generals told to travel 2nd class
Isabel Oakeshott, Deputy Political Editor
Recommend? (48) (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7078834.ece#none)
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited {color:#06c;} GORDON BROWN has delivered a final humiliation to the armed forces by ordering admirals, generals and air chief marshals to travel second class to help cut costs.
All armed forces personnel must now sit in standard class on trains and planes, whatever their rank, under a new rule that has provoked anger across the political parties.
Denis MacShane, the Labour MP and a former foreign minister, said: “Surely there are limits to how much humiliation we impose on senior officers.”
Major-General Patrick Cordingley, who commanded the 7th Armoured Brigade — the Desert Rats — during the first Gulf war, said there were “very good reasons” to allow first-class travel for senior personnel.
Related Links
Minister Quentin Davies hints at defence spending rise (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7077750.ece)
500 soldiers face sack amid funding crisis (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7071924.ece)
Generals must keep their noses out of politics (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article7058904.ece)
“I couldn’t care less about officers’ personal comfort, but there are practical reasons why this is a pity. There are often times when you are looking at restricted papers that would be of interest to people such as journalists. If it is on a computer, people can look over and read quite happily over your shoulder in standard class,” he said.
MPs are still entitled to first-class train travel, and there is no plan to restrict first-class travel for government ministers.
MacShane recently sat next to a major-general from the Irish Guards on a packed train. He was shocked the officer and his colleagues were crammed into the compartment.
“I do not mind how MPs travel or whom they meet on the train, but it is a rum show when a major-general from the Irish Guards has to travel on an off-peak, cheap-day, standard-class return ticket to make modest economies for the military,” he said.
Kevan Jones, a junior defence minister, said the decision, “is not intended to humiliate anyone. It is about getting value for money”.
Our P.M. "Butcher Brown", is just reminding the generals, that even though he was lying to the enquiry. This government still runs the country. That is what happens in the UK stand up and then the dirty tricks start. A senior filing clerk still travels first class. Sad and pathetic of this Labour Government.
March 28, 2010
Generals told to travel 2nd class
Isabel Oakeshott, Deputy Political Editor
Recommend? (48) (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7078834.ece#none)
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited {color:#06c;} GORDON BROWN has delivered a final humiliation to the armed forces by ordering admirals, generals and air chief marshals to travel second class to help cut costs.
All armed forces personnel must now sit in standard class on trains and planes, whatever their rank, under a new rule that has provoked anger across the political parties.
Denis MacShane, the Labour MP and a former foreign minister, said: “Surely there are limits to how much humiliation we impose on senior officers.”
Major-General Patrick Cordingley, who commanded the 7th Armoured Brigade — the Desert Rats — during the first Gulf war, said there were “very good reasons” to allow first-class travel for senior personnel.
Related Links
Minister Quentin Davies hints at defence spending rise (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7077750.ece)
500 soldiers face sack amid funding crisis (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7071924.ece)
Generals must keep their noses out of politics (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article7058904.ece)
“I couldn’t care less about officers’ personal comfort, but there are practical reasons why this is a pity. There are often times when you are looking at restricted papers that would be of interest to people such as journalists. If it is on a computer, people can look over and read quite happily over your shoulder in standard class,” he said.
MPs are still entitled to first-class train travel, and there is no plan to restrict first-class travel for government ministers.
MacShane recently sat next to a major-general from the Irish Guards on a packed train. He was shocked the officer and his colleagues were crammed into the compartment.
“I do not mind how MPs travel or whom they meet on the train, but it is a rum show when a major-general from the Irish Guards has to travel on an off-peak, cheap-day, standard-class return ticket to make modest economies for the military,” he said.
Kevan Jones, a junior defence minister, said the decision, “is not intended to humiliate anyone. It is about getting value for money”.
Our P.M. "Butcher Brown", is just reminding the generals, that even though he was lying to the enquiry. This government still runs the country. That is what happens in the UK stand up and then the dirty tricks start. A senior filing clerk still travels first class. Sad and pathetic of this Labour Government.