Former defence bosses take aim at PM

Updated 23.42 Thu Nov 22 2007

Keywords: defence, Gordon Brown

The Prime Minister has come under fire over the way the government treats our armed forces.

Five former Chiefs of the Defence Staff - all now Lords - took aim during a debate, accusing the government of seriously endangering troops because of a lack of money.

"If you go to the Ministry of Defence today, you will find blood on the floor as the Ministry slashes the defence programme to meet the desperate funding situation" - Admiral The Lord Boyce

Admiral The Lord Boyce said: "If you go to the Ministry of Defence today, you will find blood on the floor as the Ministry slashes the defence programme to meet the desperate funding situation.

"You will find measures being examined to cut the future equipment programme, as well as reducing present front line and its support."

Veterans' Minister, Derek Twigg, has responded: "When I go and talk to our armed force personnel they say clearly to me the morale is high, they're doing a job that they're proud of doing - and we'll continue to give them that support.

"We'll always look of course at how we can improve it further, and we'll continue to do that."