News / UK and world by Press Association October 16, 2018, 6:31 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter Chancellor Philip Hammond should take a leaf out of George Osborne’s book and waive the VAT for a charity selling First World War Tommy statues, a former head of the Army has said. A commemoration campaign called There But Not There, set up by the charity Remembered, is raising cash by selling silhouettes of Tommies ahead of the centenary of Armistice Day. But, of the £4 million that has already been raised, to date more than £800,000 has to be paid to the Government in VAT – with that figure set to increase as sales ramp up. Former chief of the general staff General Lord Richard Dannatt, a patron of the charity, said Mr Hammond has a choice between a good news story and a bad one. “It looks like the institutional organisation that is going to benefit most from this campaign is Her Majesty’s … [Read more...] about Ex-Army chief urges Chancellor to follow George Osborne on charity VAT waiver
Army
Brexit hard border would be a political failure: Former Army chief Lord Dannatt
The return to a hard border in Northern Ireland would be a “political failure” by both the British government and the European Union, a former head of the Army has said. General Lord Richard Dannatt was commissioned into The Green Howards regiment in 1971 – he served in Northern Ireland and received the Military Cross at the age of 22.His comments come days after reports that Brexit talks have run into a “significant problem” over the issue of the Northern Ireland border.EU negotiators are said to be demanding a “backstop to the backstop” to prevent a return of a “hard border” between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that any backstop must be time-limited, but the Irish government has already ruled this out.Asked by the Press Association if he was concerned that a hard border could result in a return to the Troubles, Gen Dannatt said: “I don’t want to see a return to a hard … [Read more...] about Brexit hard border would be a political failure: Former Army chief Lord Dannatt
British Army half as capable as it once was after budget cuts, former chief says
News / UK and world by Press Association October 16, 2018, 5:29 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter Cuts to the defence budget in recent years have left the British Army half as capable as it once was, a former Chief of the General Staff has said. General Lord Richard Dannatt said there is a “very strong case” for Britain to increase defence spending, and that the military would benefit from an extra £5 billion a year. Asked about the current state of Britain’s military and whether it has been damaged beyond repair, he highlighted how the UK has some “very good equipment”, but not enough of it. Gen Dannatt told the Press Association that when he was at the head of the Army in 2009 it was at a size of 102,000 but is now at a level of less than 80,000. “What that represents is a situation whereby 10 years ago we could have five combat brigades rotating through a campaign in Iraq, and at the … [Read more...] about British Army half as capable as it once was after budget cuts, former chief says
Who is Johnny Mercer? Conservative MP for Plymouth Moor View and former British Army Officer
FORMER Army captain Johnny Mercer MP has stood up for veterans' rights since becoming an MP in 2015. As he appears on Channel 4's The Hunted for charity, here's what you need to know. Who is Johnny Mercer? Johnny Mercer, 37, has been the Tory MP for Plymouth Moor View since 2015. He grew up in Dartford, Kent, one of eight children to their banker father and nurse mum. Three of his brothers served in the Royal Navy. Johnny went to Sandhurst to train as an officer in the Army, and was posted to Afghanistan during his 12-year military career. He has admitted he was not political until recently and the first time he voted was for himself. But he was tipped as a Tory rising star after a maiden Commons speech on veterans' mental health. He has served on the Defence Committee and is now on the Health Committee. Mr Mercer has criticised Mrs May for not doing enough to help needy ex-servicemen, and blasted "witch hunt" probes in Northern Ireland. In June he turned have-a-go hero as he tackled a … [Read more...] about Who is Johnny Mercer? Conservative MP for Plymouth Moor View and former British Army Officer
Army vet, 29, recalls how she was raped at knifepoint by her jealous ex in horrific nine-hour ordeal
A BRAVE army vet has described how she was raped and beaten at knifepoint by her jealous and controlling ex in an appalling nine-hour ordeal. The woman waived her anonymity to speak out ahead of the Stephen Graham’s sentencing for rape and assault at the High Court in Edinburgh tomorrow. Carin, 29, who requested to withhold her surname, described the horrendous physical and sexual abuse she suffered at his hands and said he'd left her feeling "broken" and suicidal. She first met Graham, from Fife, at high school before bumping into him years later after she returned from military service. Carin fell for his charms before he began a terrifying campaign of abuse. She said the couple’s first six weeks together were “perfect”. “In my head, it was the best relationship I’d ever been in. I thought I had found the one. We laughed all the time and we didn’t argue even once. “But when I got my own flat, it started going downhill. He was so jealous … [Read more...] about Army vet, 29, recalls how she was raped at knifepoint by her jealous ex in horrific nine-hour ordeal