Minister denies Army chief 'smear plot'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Newspaper reports claimed Labour MPs were being led by a minister in a bid to expose how much the chief of the general staff had spent on entertaining guests at his official residence in Kensington Palace.

Internet gossip sites suggested veterans minister Mr Jones was behind the plot, but last night he issued a statement saying: "It is obviously the 'silly season' in the blogosphere.

"Gen Dannatt and I have worked very closely on a number of personnel-related issues, because we both care deeply about servicemen and women.

"I look forward to continuing my working relationship with Gen Dannatt, both now as chief of the general staff and beyond into his retirement."

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman added: "MoD ministers are not involved in a plot to smear Gen Dannatt.

"Any suggestion that they are is nonsense. At such an important time for the mission in Afghanistan, everyone at the top of the MOD is focused on the task in hand."

Gen Dannatt, 58, is due to leave his post later this month and has been outspoken in recent weeks about the need for more equipment to tackle the home-made bombs which have proved deadly in Afghanistan.

He also drew up a "shopping list" of requirements for troops in the field which was presented to Gordon Brown.

And he has been unrepentant about his high-profile interventions amid allegations that he has been "politicised", saying this week: "Too right I am waging some kind of campaign.

"I am waging some kind of campaign within the Ministry of Defence and within government to make sure that our people on the frontline carrying out difficult and dangerous operations on behalf of the nation have got the right level of manpower and have got the right amount of equipment."

Reports suggested Freedom of Information (FoI) requests had been submitted on behalf of Labour MPs to find out how much public money had been spent entertaining guests at Gen Dannatt's residence, in an attempt to tarnish the Military Cross winner's reputation ahead of his retirement.

The MoD denied this was the case.

Mr Jones, the MP for Durham North, was appointed to the MoD in October 2008 - his first ministerial job.

He was first elected in 2001, having served for 11 years on Newcastle City Council.