Avoiding the subject on everybody’s mind…
I feel so guilty. On Friday, the Royal Anglian Regiment returned to their home town of Bury St Edmunds, and paraded through very crowded streets. They were there to receive the freedom of the Borough of St Edmundsbury, which is partially in my constituency. For unavoidable reasons I could not be present. A few days before, they had received an equally rapturous reception in Norwich.
Our soldiers have had and continue to have, the grimmest of times in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Royal Anglians have lost comrades. People do not believe they are being properly supported. All of this was articulated so passionately and tellingly by retired service heads in the House of Lords. You only have to note how many soldiers are voting with their feet, making overstretch so obvious.
I used to be a Parliamentary Private Secretary when Michael Portillo, Nicholas Soames and James Arbuthnot were defence ministers. No such team of such quality has been at the MoD since. Defence was taken seriously even in the post cold war atmosphere, with the highest calibre of Ministers.
Of course we do not know what defence commitments abroad we will inherit after the next General Election. The most important task is to rebalance our capabilities with our military commitments abroad. However, defence has not been at all high on people’s priorities for public spending. However, this may be changing.
Our armed forces are our most cherished national institution. We are very proud of them. This Government has taken them for granted, and the people of this country now know it.