Comments from James Heappey come as MoD reveals more than 10,000 UK troops are not fit to serveJames Heappey, who was a defence minister for the whole of the last parliament, told Times Radio in an interview this morning that that figures about 10,000 members of the armed forces not being medically fit were “very arresting” and a matter of concern. But he also played down the significance of the findings, saying that the figures would include many people deemed unfit just because they had missed dental checks, and that other people with injuries could be deployed in a war. He explained:Firstly, I’ll bet you that a big chunk of the non-deployable, medically downgraded people are downgraded for dental reasons. And what that tends to mean is that they’ve not had a dental check-up in the last six months, and so they are automatically declared dentally unfit, and therefore not fully deployable.Secondly, there is a reality about the nature of some of these injuries that mean that they couldn’t deploy to go on a discretionary operation today in peacetime, but if war was to come, then they would be absolutely able to go and fight because the needs of the nation would rather trump that rather discretionary take on their medical capacity.In 1914 the British Expeditionary Force was defeated inside the first year and it was a sort of volunteer, conscript army that went on to win the war subsequently.In 1939, the standing professional army was defeated within a year and onto the beaches of Dunkirk, and then it was a volunteer conscript army, second and third echelon army, that went on to win the war.History tells us that the army, navy, air force that starts a war never is the one that finishes it, and at the moment I don’t think the UK has particularly credible plans for developing that second and third echelon that will prove decisive in any national war.I’d like especially to thank those who will spend their Christmas serving others this year. In our NHS and emergency services, our armed forces and the churches and charities that will welcome every person this Christmas.Because I know that this is not an easy time for everyone, and my thoughts are with all those who are lonely this Christmas. Having a tough time, missing a loved one. You are not alone. Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/dec/24/uk-politics-latest-news-labour-tories-british-army
Author : Andrew Sparrow
Publish date : 2024-12-24 10:29:00
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UK has no credible plan to mobilise volunteers in event of war, ex-defence minister admits – UK politics live
