Force morale 'good' says Government

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Defence minister Derek Twigg dismissed warnings that underinvestment had put troops in danger and that a "desperate" funding situation would result in "blood on the floor" of the Ministry of Defence.

The five former military top brass spoke out in a House of Lords debate - directly criticising Mr Brown's "unsympathetic" record towards the armed forces as Chancellor.

They were joined on Thursday night by Labour former defence minister Lord Gilbert, who accused the PM of bringing the criticism on himself "by some injudicious actions".

He singled out the failure to thank troops in the Queen's Speech "which is quite extraordinary considering what they are doing at the moment".

Mr Twigg rejected the criticisms, saying the chiefs of staff's present successors did not share their concerns.

Troops on the front line told him they had "the best personal equipment they have ever had" and expenditure had been increasing more than since the 1980s, he said.

Admiral Lord Boyce told the Lords the "smoke and mirrors work of the Government" was hiding the fact that the MoD had actually suffered budget cuts, and warned of "blood on the floor" as a consequence.

General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank said Mr Brown had been "the most unsympathetic Chancellor of the Exchequer, as far as defence was concerned" and had avoided attending meetings, while Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig of Radley questioned whether it was not "immoral to commit forces that are underprepared and ill-equipped for their task?"

Criticisms were also levelled by Field Marshals Lord Bramall and Lord Inge, who said it sent a "bad message" that Defence Secretary Des Browne split his time with his other job as Scottish Secretary.