ARmy Rumour SErvice

**pimpernel** · 12-06-2012, 16:21

I rather think you might be surprised. This has been done before and there are quite a lot of Tory MPs with experience in HMF. There are two ex Infantry COs on the Government back benches.

**Alec_Lomas** · 12-06-2012, 16:22

Originally Posted by serve_to_lead2011

also, shouldn't we all worry about how few of our MPs, of any party, have any military experience whatsoever?! It is shocking how little parliament probably knows about the armed forces.

MP's do have their very own consultant in the guise of Eric Joyce. I mean, what could possibly go wrong..........................

**pimpernel** · 12-06-2012, 16:23

Originally Posted by Alec_Lomas

MP's do have their very own consultant in the guise of Eric Joyce. I mean, what could possibly go wrong..........................

Isn't Eric in re hab!

**Iolis** · 12-06-2012, 16:44

Originally Posted by Alec_Lomas

MP's do have their very own consultant in the guise of Eric Joyce. I mean, what could possibly go wrong..........................

So thats why they want more Scottish Regiments to take their fair share of redundancies - Joyce convinced them!

See what happens when you go around 'filling in' Tory MPs!

**ugly** · 12-06-2012, 17:33

Mr Benyon was a rupert in 1RGJ! Nice chap for a slack jacket!

**Charm_City** · 12-06-2012, 17:45

Originally Posted by serve_to_lead2011

All this nonsense is proof that ALL our Pm's should have served in the Army atleast for a bit, before going into politics. Then they might understand the issues and not destroy the lives of people who have done so much for our country! But of course, we all know that work shy David Cameron wouldn't even get into, never mind survive or thrive in the Army.

CDS is paid somewhere north of £220K pa to explain issues to the PM and ministers.

And why just service in Army? - surely a PM should also have served in the RN and the RAF, young Wales stylee?. Presumably he should also have qualified as a GP, taught in an inner city school, walked a beat, managed a SME, etc, etc in order to qualify him for the job?

**Cuddles** · 12-06-2012, 22:12

Cardwell reforms - "Cardwell reduced the Army budget yet increased its strength of the army by 25 battalions, 156 field guns, and abundant stores, while the reserves available for foreign service had been raised tenfold from 3,500 to 36,000 men."" That would be nice...

Haldane reforms - "Having reduced the Estimates to £28 million first, Haldane then implemented his reforms of the Army; a wide-ranging set of reforms aimed at preparing the army for an Imperial war but with the more likely (and secret) task of a European war. The main element of this was the establishment of the British Expeditionary Force, along with the creation of the Imperial General Staff, the Territorial Force, the Officer Training Corps and the Special Reserve."

Imagine if Mr Hammond were asked to reduce defence expenditure but to increase capability...how would THAT brief go down with the member for Runnymede and BAESYSTEMS?

**bokkatankie** · 12-06-2012, 22:28

Originally Posted by Cuddles

Cardwell reforms - "Cardwell reduced the Army budget yet increased its strength of the army by 25 battalions, 156 field guns, and abundant stores, while the reserves available for foreign service had been raised tenfold from 3,500 to 36,000 men."" That would be nice...

Haldane reforms - "Having reduced the Estimates to £28 million first, Haldane then implemented his reforms of the Army; a wide-ranging set of reforms aimed at preparing the army for an Imperial war but with the more likely (and secret) task of a European war. The main element of this was the establishment of the British Expeditionary Force, along with the creation of the Imperial General Staff, the Territorial Force, the Officer Training Corps and the Special Reserve."

Imagine if Mr Hammond were asked to reduce defence expenditure but to increase capability...how would THAT brief go down with the member for Runnymede and BAESYSTEMS?

It is interesting to note that the total Defence budget in 1948 was GBP600m'the Army got:

Money: GBP222m (that is half what we spend on the TA now)

Manpower:
Regulars: 185,000 (including women), reduced from 200,000
National Service: 105,000

This was at a time when we still had the Empire (less India) and many bases all over the world.

It is not suprising that the Army that went to Korea had pretty much the same kit as WW2.

It is also, perhaps, indicative, of the sorry state of our reserves today.

**serve_to_lead2011** · 12-06-2012, 22:28

Originally Posted by Charm_City

And why just service in Army? - surely a PM should also have served in the RN and the RAF, young Wales stylee?. Presumably he should also have qualified as a GP, taught in an inner city school, walked a beat, managed a SME, etc, etc in order to qualify him for the job?

Sounds like an excellent candidate...just a pity there's no one like that on the stage at the moment.

**Robbeaus** · 12-06-2012, 23:52

The forces are being slashed and burnt, because this shower of shit would rather line the pockets of the arms industry.
You might say, but without the toms, there wouldn't be a need for the kit?
I would say, that this shower of shite have yet to understand this flaw in their thinking. So long as they can fund their mates making the kit, we will be out of office next election and the other lot can work that one out.