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DeliciousConcern over Fox's special adviser
Monday, June 07, 2010Concerns have been raised over the appointment of an American citizen with intelligence links as special adviser to Defence Secretary Liam Fox.
Fox's appointment of former US army captain Luke Coffey has been criticised by MPs who fear he may push for pro-American policy and contract decisions and have access to "UK eyes only" classified documents.
Labour MP Michael Dugher, himself a former MoD special adviser in the MoD, told The Times: "This raises serious questions. At a time when the MoD is undertaking a sensitive defence review, vital to British national interests, is it really appropriate to have a foreign national and a former member of the US military employed by the taxpayer as a special adviser to the British secretary of state?
"It will only fuel fears that Liam Fox plans to tear up important contracts with UK-based suppliers - supporting thousands of British jobs - in favour of buying 'off the shelf' from the Americans."
Concerns also centre on Coffey's position as chapter director of the London branch of the Council for Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA), which counts several former members of US intelligence services among its members. On its website, CENSA describes its role as "to shape US national security policy".
Coffey has not yet been fully security cleared, and an MoD source quoted in The Times said that he will work on a restricted computer terminal in the ministry until he is. He will also not be allowed into the most confidential meetings until he is cleared, and he has already reportedly been excluded from briefings on the nuclear deterrent and Britain's special forces.
A parliamentary question from former veterans minister Kevan Jones concerning the nationality of government special advisers has reportedly been blocked by Conservative Francis Maude as the information was deemed "personal".
Fox reportedly played down criticisms, saying: "It's not as if he is Russian."
HAVE YOUR SAY
i don’t wish to rub salt into the critics reasoning, but perhaps if the US Military was running the British military perhaps we may not be in this mess and almost militarily bankrupt in the first place, just look at the type 45, the greatest unarmed destroyer to enter service, what next R A F using passenger airlines to drop leaflets, or the new modern army with plastic guns,
but hey, they do look the part??
so lets give this government a chance, then slag them of later if they also fail the armed forces.
criss of herts - london
To employ a foreign national in such a sensitive position is ludicrous. How can he serve the British interest, it is obvious that he will push for American interests against ours. This will ultimately have serious consequences for our armed services. The Americans in the past have always been willing to sacrifice the UK and its army, this appointment will serve the interests of the USA and demonstrates the way this government is thinking regarding our armed forces. How much will our troops have to pay in their lives and equipment. But maybe just maybe it may have one good outcome our troops may be given access to real rifles like the US forces have and not peashooters like they have now.
Peter - Manchester
I'm not sure that the Pentagon is any better. Look at the Littoral Combat Ship!
Jason S - UK