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Cameron's pledge to troops on Afghan visit
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor2 Sep 2008
David Cameron staged a surprise trip to Afghanistan today as he unveiled plans to give more family leave to British troops fighting overseas.
In yet another bid to present the Tory leader as prime minister-in-waiting, he chatted with squaddies in Lashkar Gah base in the volatile Helmand province.
Mr Cameron called for rest periods to start from the moment personnel arrive home - rather than the current system of timing their breaks from the point at which they leave operations.
For some troops, it can take up to two days to get back to Britain and that is counted as part of their time off.
The Tory leader, in the country for the third time since he took charge of the party, said: "I think this is fair for our troops. They should be able to predict how long their leave is going to be rather than having to spend it on a plane and on air bases a long way from home.
"Today when our servicemen and women end their duties in the heat and dust of Afghanistan or Iraq their leave does not start when they arrive home - often after several days delay.
"Under our plans the leave clock would not start ticking until they arrive back on British soil. This is a common sense idea that will make a big difference to the lives of our brave troops and their families."
Mr Cameron has accused the Government of breaking the military covenant by letting troops down on equipment, healthcare, family support and accommodation.
A Conservative Party commission set up by Mr Cameron and led by Falklands hero Simon Weston and author Frederick-Forsyth raised the issue of "lost leave" in June. Its proposals have now been endorsed by the party leadership.
Earlier Mr Cameron and shadow foreign secretary William Hague had breakfast in the base's mess hall.
The Tory leader discussed conditions for soldiers and the situation on the ground with Captain Julian Mitchell, of Pembroke in west Wales, who is a member of 42 Engineer Regiment, and Captain-Andrew Rodgers, of Oxford, a member of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
Mr Cameron said there had been "progress" in Afghanistan, but there were still concerns such as a shortage of helicopters and the unwillingness of some Nato countries to play their full part.
The loss of leave and the problems associated are still widespread, with 18 per cent of flights for soldiers serving in Iraq delayed last year.
Some 29 per cent of flights for troops in Afghanistan were delayed and 11 per cent of those were delayed for more than six hours.
Last month, British troops were left stranded in Afghanistan by the ageing transport fleet. Their misery was compounded when Taliban militia broke a six-week ceasefire in the area, targeting the Kandahar airfield.
As a final insult, days spent waiting were counted as part of their two-week rest-and-recuperation break.
Defence sources claim the RAF is struggling with severe defence cuts and is overstretched.
The issue was explored by the Defence Select Committee last year. Its report said: "The MoD should not underestimate the impact on the morale of Service personnel of delays returning to the UK, particularly if the delays cut into a short period of leave."
