Labour Ministers in retreat over plans to make massive cuts to TA training
Bob Blackman, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East welcomed Labour’s latest U-turn – abandoning plans to make significant cuts to the Territorial Army.
On 15th October, the Government announced that weekly and monthly Territorial Army training would be cut by a massive £20 million – wiping out training for tens of thousands of Territorials. This £20 million was in addition to cuts of £23 million earlier in the current financial year. This represents a third of the Territorial Army’s annual budget. However, following pressure from Conservatives, the Labour Government has dropped the plans.
Since 2002, some 20,000 reservists have seen active service in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans, most of them from the TA. Fourteen Territorials have given their lives. Today some 550 Territorials are serving on the front-line in Afghanistan. Dozens more serve in the Balkans and other places across the globe. But the Labour Government has treated the TA shamefully. In 1997 there were 57,000 members of the Territorial Army. Twelve years later numbers have fallen to 35,000.
Bob Blackman said:
“Through good times and bad, the Territorial Army has given this country a proud century of service. Thanks to Conservative pressure, Gordon Brown has been forced to abandon his damaging and ill-thought out plans to cut TA training. Common sense has prevailed.
“But Gordon Brown’s embarrassing U-turn cannot undo the damage to morale and trust. The TA plays an important role in our community and nation, and Conservatives will always stand up in support of their invaluable work and service.”
Conservatives Pledge to Improve Northwick Park Hospital Bob Blackman, Conservative Candidate for Harrow East, and Mike Penning, the Conservative
40 children expelled and 650 suspended in local schoolsBob Blackman, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East, expressed concern as offici
CONSERVATIVES PLEDGE TO REBUILD ROYAL NATIONAL ORTHAPAEDIC HOSPITALAndrew Lansley, Shadow Secretary for Health, and Bob Blackman, Conservative Parliam
Bold new policies to make planning system more responsive and accountableBob Blackman, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East, welcomed
New plans for employee-owned co-operatives to help improve local servicesPublic sector workers across Harrow could become their own boss and deliver b
Gordon Brown to make local taxpayers pay the price for personal care changesBob Blackman, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East, warned
Government to hit local voluntary groups across Harrow with new music chargesChurches, village halls, charity shops and sports clubs across Harrow fac