Shaun Ley: The disquiet over General Dannatt’s move to the Conservatives is not just confined to Labour politicians. Lord Ramsbotham is a former Lieutenant General in the Army.
David Ramsbotham: The tradition has always been that the military do not align themselves with any political party. I was commander in Belfast in 1979 and on one Thursday I woke up in the morning with a Secretary of State from the Labour Party and that evening we had a Conservative one. But it didn’t matter, you were going on whichever government was there and that tradition is terribly important if there are to be proper relationships between the military and government that they should be entirely non-party and therefore personally I regret is when someone so soon after leaving and particular somebody who’s been so controversial as it were should appear to be lined up for a job with one or other of the political parties.
SL: There is an argument I suppose that we have no evidence that he effectively was expressing the views that he expressed in order to curry favour with the Conservatives so in that sense if this has happened after he ceased, being chief of the general staff isn’t that fair enough? If he’s now a private individual?
DR: Yes he’s perfectly entitled to express his opinions. What I’m concerned about is the suggestion that Mr Cameron who may be the next Prime Minister is seeking to use him as a source of advice and no reason why he shouldn’t of course but he was one member of the chiefs of staff committee and it was the chiefs of staff who provide military advice and of course if Mr Cameron becomes Prime Minister to whom he goes, not a former colleague.
SL: Do you think Sir Richard has made a mistake?
DR: Well I couldn’t comment on who gave him advice but I personally wish he had not allied himself so publicly with one political party at this particular time when so much febrile activity about who said what to whom about troop reinforcements and so on, is very much in the media.
3 comments ↓
“one Thursday I woke up in the morning with a Secretary of State from the Labour Party and that evening we had a Conservative one.”
I know Army people can be a little strange at times, but surely this behaviour is just a little too promiscuous
If this country were to stop warring we would be able to afford absolutely everything. It is one thing to protect the United Kingdom but looking back into history and til to date, we are always poking our noses into affairs that is not our business. More than the half the country did not even realise we are at war with Afganistan. No wonder the muslims hate us! So much back stabbing going on in this world, is the honor of a mans word no longer his bond?
Go the whole hog Sir Richard. How about a tank on Downing Street?
That’s what happens when military men think they know better than government.
I am amazed at the generally relaxed reaction in many places. The only people who have indicated their horror are military top brass.
Dannatt has lost whatever authority he had and I cannot see what Cameron will really get out of this. But the military need to put their house in order so that someone else does not behave like this.
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