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Call for inquiry on Brown war veto

Sunday, 19th July 2009

UKIP has called for a public inquiry into Gordon Brown's veto of vital equipment in the UK's fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

UKIP Deputy Leader and Head of Policy, David Campbell Bannerman MEP, who will take up his seat on the Security and Defence Committee of the European Parliament this week, has called for a public inquiry into the Treasury’s role in vetoing vital equipment while Gordon Brown was Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mr Campbell Bannerman said: “When UKIP launched its defence paper last April we were well aware then of severe helicopter shortages from front line feedback.

"We understand that every time a politician or visitor goes to Afghanistan, there are so few helicopters that troops are left behind in danger zones.

“Why has this come as news to the Government now? It is an absolute disgrace that lives have been put at risk by penny-pinching ministers and bureaucrats who know no sense of shame or responsibility.

“If Treasury short-term thinking has cost brave British lives, then those responsible must go. And if that means Gordon Brown himself going, so be it. We demand a public inquiry to get to the bottom of this shameful episode and to examine what senior military personnel have been saying.

“Only UKIP seems to care about the armed forces, with a commitment to raise defence spending by 40%, to increase the regular army by one quarter, double the Territorial Army, and increase helicopters and aircraft for the Royal Navy and RAF.”

Read UKIP's defence policy in full here.

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