Government U-Turn on TA Training Welcomed - Dan Byles Blasts Gordon Brown

Conservative candidate and ex-soldier Dan Byles today welcomed the news that the Government has backed down over controversial plans to save £20m by freezing training for the Territorial Army for six months.

Dan, who served for nine years as a soldier before leaving the Army to stand for election, has been a campaigner for better medical and welfare support for soldiers and veterans.

Today, Dan blasted Gordon Brown for even considering what he described as a dangerous and stupid idea.

“I am delighted that Gordon Brown has performed this U-turn over TA training, but what on earth were they thinking in the first place?

“The Army relies heavily on the TA for support on operations – with some 1,200 TA soldiers deploying overseas every year. To even consider stopping their training for six months to save money shows just how little this Government understands the military.

“You can’t just switch training and expertise on and off. This move would have put soldiers’ lives at risk on operations. I welcome the climb down, but why did the Government cause such dismay to our TA soldiers and their families?”