A clear dividing line on defence
David Blackburn 2:11pm
Bernard Gray’s report into defence procurement waste has been postponed until after the general election, in other words – suppressed. According to the Times, Gray’s discovery of £2.4bn of waste was so damning that the government chose to ignore it. But suppressing the document increases the pressure on the government’s already strained defence policies.
The Tories are extracting political capital from this on three points. £2.4bn of wasted procurement is another eye-catching figure for proponents of the post-bureaucratic age cuts agenda. The second line of attack reiterates that the government’s defence policy is so garbled that troops’ at risk: super-carriers going over budget whilst there is a shortage of armoured vehicles in is a compelling argument. Finally, suppressing damaging information implies that this government’s lifeblood is deceit. Liam Fox was vociferous:
“The Government has a moral duty to ensure that our Armed Forces have the equipment they need for the warfighting they are asked to do. Instead we have a catalogue of bureaucracy, incompetence and time-wasting. Gordon Brown…is trying to cover up his mistakes.
“We need regular defence reviews to ensure that such massive wastage cannot happen again and a Conservative government would legislate, if necessary, to ensure that they happen in every Parliament… Labour must not be allowed to operate a scorched earth policy on defence.”
Whether the Tories honour their promises remains to be seen, but their coherence contrasts sharply with the government’s desperation. At last, Gordon Brown has his dividing line, only he’s the wrong side of it.
Previous
PSJ
August 6th, 2009 2:25pm Report this commentWhere is a good whistleblower when you need him/her?
Long-term HK
August 6th, 2009 2:34pm Report this commentThe government of the eye-catching initiative has morphed into the government of eye-catching incompetence
Anthony
August 6th, 2009 2:38pm Report this comment"...super-carriers going over budget whilst there is a shortage of armoured vehicles in is a compelling argument."
Politically compelling, perhaps, in terms of getting journos in a flap. Unfortunately, it's also grossly simplistic.
astateofdenmark
August 6th, 2009 2:49pm Report this commentCouldn't this report be made public through a FOI request?
Rhys
August 6th, 2009 3:07pm Report this commentThe Beeb does it's damndest to run the Government line: "We are NOT suppressing the report."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8186763.stm
This administration is pathetic. Another bunch of statistics they can't massage so they simply refuse to publish them. Just like the non-Public Spending Review:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8124312.stm
Lee Hannaford
August 6th, 2009 3:32pm Report this commentAll good and well. But now the Conservatives have to start coming out with their own policies. You can only criticise for so long.
I understand the bigger (political) picture in all of this and the dividing lines etc but under those lines are men and women who are now, and in years to come, putting their lives on the line as instruments of policy.
If the politician or civil servant makes a mistake, there lives will go on. However potentially that mistake will end someone else’s.
Nicholas
August 6th, 2009 4:13pm Report this commentNobody requires an implication that "this government's lifeblood is deceit". It is bleedin' obvious to every man and woman in the street (except the pro-Labour nutters).
Not just their lifeblood but their bone, soft tissue and DNA too. Heck even their clothes (especially the new ones they keep dressing the would-be Emperor up in) are rancid with deceit. It's what they do. They are the "Do Everything Deceitfully" party.
Moraymint
August 6th, 2009 5:28pm Report this comment" ... this government’s lifeblood is deceit"
Yup. Has been since Blair (always more a thespian than a politician) started poncing about with the Labour Party and cultivating a culture of spin, show, razzamatazz, smiles to camera, Cool Britannia (God help us), tell-'em-whatever-you-like ... indeed, a culture of anything but straightforward hard work, sound policy making and administrative competence.
How much longer do we have to put up with this? Oh, that's right: for as long as Gordon Brown can cling to office.
Some democracy this, eh?
mac
August 6th, 2009 6:31pm Report this comment"£2.4bn of wasted procurement."
We'll know how serious the Tories are about reducing defence procurement costs once they start saying 'no' to the state within a state that is BAe Systems. I shan't hold my breath.
Battle 2807
August 6th, 2009 7:59pm Report this commentWhether the Tories honour their promises remains to be seen......
See how cynical we all after 12 years of new Liebour.
Back to top