Three defence ministers go in reshuffle

HAVE YOUR SAY

05 September 2012

As a veteran I am relieved that Andrew Robathan has been moved on from his current post, but surprised he has managed to swing a promotion.

His handling of veterans affairs has been unsympathetic at best and bordered on far worst, particularly in handling the Arctic Convoy veterans.

We can only hope that the new minister will take time to talk to veterans and fight for, not against them.
N Moore - UK

05 September 2012

With an investment banker in charge of selling off the UK's defence equipment purchasing arm to vested interests, and an accountant now in charge of the entire Ministry as PUS, torrid times ahead - the deep cuts haven't even started kicking in yet.

Prepare for a third world Army, grounded air force and a navy of rowing boats or "mothballed" carriers and cruiser by 2025 - and a century of obscurity and penury. Perhaps the best that can be hoped for is to become a 51st state of the USA, if it survives war with China and we survive Eurogeddon.

The deadly duo of bean-counters will be preparing their cost/benefit analyses of selling out the Falklands and Gibraltar, pulling out of Scotland as well as Germany and NATO...
AlMiles - Bristol, UK

05 September 2012

As a septuagenarian,former Royal Marines volunteer(Mne)for nearly three years and then a subaltern who years later served again, as an officer with the Queen's 6/7(V)HSF, I comment accordingly.
"It is unfortunate that the hard working Nick Harvey, Esq.,has been replaced".
"Andrew Robathan,Esq.,has often in his last post demonstrated a propensity for upsetting various groups of veterans. His recent ill conceived and incompetent medals review foundered at a great waste of tax payers money. I for one believe that this man lacks the personal touch. He often appears to be too 'stiff necked' and haughty. His latest elevation ia a bridge too far and most ill advised".
Charles Lovelace, FMM. - Liphook.

06 September 2012

I am astounded that Andrew Robathan got promotion rather than being fired. If his treatment of the Nuclear Veterans are any to go by he must rank as the most incompetent Minister of Veteran Affairs for a long time.
I wrote to him on the 14 June 2012 and asked numerous questions, but he did not even have the courtesy to reply: I obtained the services of my Member of Parliament to approach Andrew Robathan regarding his failure to carry out the simplest of tasks and he was informed by Robathan (in front of other Members) he would be answering my correspondence on the 25 July 2012.
This he has failed to do: I am still waiting for his reply.

One expects Elected Members to be open and honest, Mr Robathan fails on both counts!

It looks like David Cameron has awarded failure.
Dave Whyte - Kirkcaldy

06 September 2012

It has been announced by Downing Street that Nick Harvey is to be honoured with a knighthood.
AlMiles - Bristol, UK

07 September 2012

Along with 8 other veterans I was at Westminster Hall in 2011 for a debate in which Andrew Robatham had been asked to appear in his capacity as veterans minister, and the look of utter contempt we received from Robathan was shocking, far from supporting us he looked like he wanted to put us on jankers for eternity for daring to question his judgement. In his tenure of office as veterans minister he only demonstrated epic incompetence and apathy towards veterans. I am appalled this man has been promoted with his record being fired would have been the least the Prime Minster could have done for the resumption of confidence in the upper echelons of the MoD.
David M Kelley - Chatteris

07 September 2012

In response to Mr. David M. Kelley, from Chateris. Mr. Kelley should remember that the Rt. Hon. (?)Andrew Robathan, Esq.,was once chief whip.
Possibly the PM was frit !
A crass appointment and unworthy !
Charles Lovelace, FMM. - Liphook.

17 September 2012

I thank Mr Charles Lovelace FMM of Liphook, for his comments. I did not realise that Robathan was once a chief whip, but that might account for the contempt and arrogance he demonstrated to myself and my colleagues in Westminster Hall. I believe a significant reason for such an appalling appointment in his case, along with the scrapping of HMS Ark Royal the Harriers and Nimrod, is due to a front bench (of all 3 parties) politicians who have never served and have evolved into a professional political elite, having gone straight from university into politics, and thus been divorced from the lives and trials those they send to war have to endure. The Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park has the following quote by Pericles; "Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it". By promoting the serially incompetent Robathan,(who is held in almost universal contempt by veterans), the Prime Minister has demonstrated neither he, nor his Government has either the competence nor the courage to defend our freedom. Which is something I informed the Prime Minister of in a personal letter when he scrapped the best and most versatile aeroplane in our inventory, the Harrier, the means of deploying it, HMS Ark Royal and the Invincible class carriers, along with the means of detecting a maritime threat to our Navy and nation, the Nimrod.
David M Kelley BSc MBPsS - Chatteris/Cambridgeshire