The Government are being very short sighted about the TA. They bring valuable experience and skills to the army. I was in the Intelligence Corps where there was a brain surgeon, accountant, solicitor along with people from many different backgrounds bringing important skills into the regular army. It is a very cost effective way of bringing in outside talent and we worked alongside the regulars doing the same job but only get paid for the days worked plus a small bounty. For instance, a TA Private gets £40.95 a day, a Captain £91.25, the Annual Bounty depends on how many years service, ranging from £405 in the first year to the maximum of £1596 after 5 years. The minimum amount of training days are 27 for a Regional unit and 19 for National Units so you can see how cost effective is when there are no pensions provided and TA soldiers still have to pay tax and national insurance. They are also expected to be deployed to areas of operation including Afghanistan where they work alongside regular soldiers, in many cases doing the same job, there are 500 reservists at the moment.

Training is extremely important and needs to be consistent to keep up military skills, and the commitment of any TA individual to being a soldier is huge, it dominates their lives and they are happy to train extra hard in their own time to make sure that they are physically fit but they do need continual well structured training to make sure that they are battle fit too.

This Government must recognise the contribution of the TA and pay for their training accordingly if they are to be perform their valuable role in backing up our armed forces.

It was the third Seafarers Service that I have been to on Sunday and I was pleased to see so many people there. Unlike last year when the Dean and Mayor were soaked by the waves, it was a gorgeous sunny day and there were crowds of people watching as the wreath was thrown into the sea.

Remembering all those people who have put their lives at risk, whether it be at sea or on land, is extremely important and it is very moving to see how many people are turning out for the homecoming parades for our troops from Afghanistan. I am really pleased to support the Royal British Legion’s General Election Manifesto, most of which is in our own manifesto anyway, and it is disgraceful how our armed forces have been treated both in the lack of equipment and accommodation by this government. Only 52% of families living in armed forced accommodation see commented that their accommodation is good. That means 48% are not and it is obvious from some of the armed forces houses in Portsmouth that little money is being spent on keeping them up to scratch.

I will be wearing my poppy with pride this year along with everyone else and we look forward to the time when all our troops are home safe.

You can find out more about The Royal British Legion’s General Election Manifesto at www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk

This was the final conference before the General Election and it was interesting to see how many stall and businesses were in Manchester to advise and give us their views on a wide range of subjects. I spent most of the conference talking to businesses with interests in Portsmouth and encouraging them to continue to invest here and also in our young people. Many companies do provide apprenticeships but we need many more of them. Catch 22 had a stall at the Conference, I have visited their organisation in Portsmouth already and am really impressed with the work that they do to get youngsters who are not in education, employment or training motivated – one in six 18 year olds are in this category.

David Cameron talked passionately about getting people out of poverty during his conference speech and got a standing ovation. We have far too many people who don’t know where to start to get a job or are penalised by the benefits system which makes it uneconomical to go back to work. This has to change and I was pleased that we will be working hard to make this happen if we get elected.

I was also impressed by the knowledge of all the MPs I met, not just the Shadow Cabinet. Many MPs have become specialised in an area which bodes well for future policy making. Ann Mackintosh MP was at a meeting I had with Southern Water, and she knew all about the issues of flooding and potential risks for Portsmouth.

The overall mood of the conference was sombre as we are all facing the realities of the debt caused by the over spending of government and banking crisis – at least the banks are starting to pay off the debt. Government spending does not seem to have been so productive and although initiatives like Sure Start have been a great idea, many of them are not reaching the people they should be. We will be using many organisations in the third sector to make sure that money is well spent and makes a significant difference to the people that really need it.

There is much to do to put this country back on its feet but it is very apparent that we have the right people and policies to do that and I am looking forward to campaigning on our policies over the next few months.

11 October 2009

Flick pledges to “do her bit” for British Armed Forces

Flick Drummond, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for Portsmouth South, has pledged to do her bit for the British Armed Forces family.

Flick met with representatives from The Royal British Legion at the recent Conservative party conference in Manchester where she was presented with a copy of the Legion’s manifesto for the next general election.

The manifesto sets out priorities for the next Government to improve conditions for the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It encourages MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) to “do their bit” for Service Personnel and their families, the bereaved, veterans and dependants.

Kevin Shinkwin, the Legion’s Head of Public Affairs, said, “We’re really grateful to Flick for making the time to meet with us and listen to our concerns. Our message to every candidate standing at the general election is very simple: ‘It’s time to do your bit’.

“The entire Armed Forces family needs the support of politicians from all parties,” he added. “Our manifesto outlines practical ways the next government can help, and we hope all the parties will give it serious consideration”.

Flick said, “I was delighted to meet with The Royal British Legion. They have an important role to play in highlighting the needs of the whole Armed Forces family. I have pledged to do my bit and would encourage everyone to do the same by visiting the general election manifesto website – www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk – to find out more. This contains some interesting ideas, many of which are very similar to the proposals of our Military Covenant Commission. We have already identified the creation of a through-life mental health service for service personnel and veterans as our welfare priority.’

For further information, please contact: Kevin Shinkwin, Head of Public Affairs

E: kshinkwin@britishlegion.org.uk T: 020 3207 2246

NOTE TO EDITORS:

The Royal British Legion is the nation’s leading Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem the red poppy — www.britishlegion.org.uk.

ENDS