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Brown under pressure as minister confesses: ‘We don’t have enough helicopters’
Joe Murphy, Political Editor22 Jul 2009
Gordon Brown today acknowledged the pressure for “more helicopters in general” in Afghanistan after a Government minister broke ranks and admitted there were not enough.
The Prime Minister came under more pressure to deliver extra machines after Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown declared: “We definitely don't have enough helicopters.” His comment infuriated No. 10, where officials dismissed him as “out of the loop” and “ill-informed”, even though Afghanistan is part of his ministerial responsibilities.
Within a few hours, Lord Malloch-Brown issued a full retraction, which he described as a “clarification” of his views. In a statement that was said to have been issued at the behest of Downing Street, he claimed he had meant that there were “without doubt sufficient resources in place for current operations”, although “we should always do what we can to make more available on the front line”.
Retiring Army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt highlighted the shortage and armed forces head Sir Jock Stirrup confirmed that casualties could be avoided by more helicopters.
At his regular monthly press conference later, the Prime Minister was repeatedly forced to defend the prosecution of the Afghanistan war against complaints about shortages of equipment and helicopters in particular.
He insisted that Army commanders had all they had requested for the current mission, Operation Panther's Claw, but acknowledged there were calls for “more helicopters in general”.
He said extra Merlin helicopters would be deployed later this year.
“I am satisfied that Operation Panther's Claw has the resources it needs to be successful,” he said.
“I think the fact that it is making progress at the moment and yielding results already shows that is the case. I am confident that we will bring this operation to a successful outcome.”
The war strategy also came under fire from former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown, who said the Army had been treated like “the armed wing of the Islington Labour Party”. Lord Ashdown said that what should only have been a swift mission to destroy terrorist freedom to operate in Afghanistan had been tainted by “mission creep” and expanded to include the impossible aims of building a Western-style democracy.
Mr Brown reacted cautiously to a proposal by Lord Ashdown that any Taliban leaders who renounced violence should be invited to play a role in Afghanistan.
Reader views (12)
“We definitely don't have enough helicopters.”
That sounds pretty clear to me. I can't honestly see why such a clear and precise statement needs any "clarification" at all - apart from the fact that it contradicts the lies told by Gordon Brown!!!
- Malcolm, London, 22/07/2009 16:31
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On reflection - do we think there would be more helcopters and other kit if G. Brown's children (and other cabinet members children) were out there. I do not think there is not one son of daughter of a current minister out there.
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties, 22/07/2009 16:17
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It doesn't really matter that yet another one of NuLiebour's unelected ministers has strayed from the prevailing narrative. The people of Britain know that our armed forces have been betrayed by this stinking Britain-hating government, and that Gordon Brown will never accept responsibilty for any of his government's failings, or tell the truth about his refusal to properly equip our troops.
McBroon's political career, like that of NuLiebour, is bulit upon a pack of lies, spin and deceit. He's been well and truly rumbled and the only person being fooled by his perpetual dishonesty is him and a few deluded NuLiebour-voting drones.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 22/07/2009 15:29
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More lies = More lost lives
- Richard, London, 22/07/2009 13:34
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If they need helicopters because the roads are not safe one has to question the 'so called' gains. NATO need to send far more men and equipment and finish this off as we and the US cannot win this alone!
- Man U Fan, London, 22/07/2009 13:07
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The brass hats are doing a fine job of playing the blame game. We'd do well to remember that they are the same ones who were criticised by the National Audit Office for ordering Apache helicopters that couldn't fly at night and didn't have enough trained pilots to use them by day. They also ordered Chinooks that were grounded for 7 years awaiting £500m of software upgrades. As Groucho Marx said, military intelligence is a contradiction in terms.
- Austen, London, 22/07/2009 13:05
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Well that's the end for Malloch-Brown then. There is no greater sin in Nu-Labour than telling the inconvenient truth.
- Mark, London, 22/07/2009 12:59
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Truth is the first casualty of Brown's government.
- Lin, London England, 22/07/2009 09:49
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As usual, anyone who dares to speak the truth instead of repeating Browns spin and lies, is a traitor. Brown and his brown nosing boys make me sick.
- John - Uk Tax Payer, Bangkok, Thailand, 22/07/2009 09:48
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No 10 might be angry, but none of them have lost their lives (or likley to) because of Grodon Brown - the same can not be said about our troops in Afghanistan.
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties, 22/07/2009 09:40
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The Naked Prime Minister's arrogance and incompetence has betrayed this country.
How did his 'fury' at someone else pointing out the truth about his uselessness manifest itself this time - more taxpayers' phones being thrown about?
- Taxpayer, London, 22/07/2009 09:28
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Good job Malloch-Brown isn't in the Armed Forces, with an aim like that. Never mind the foot injury would have ensured he didn't have to fight on the front line until the gunshot wound healed.
- Alan, carlisle uk, 22/07/2009 09:05
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