09/11/09 - Government U Turn on TA Welcomed

The Territorial Army deserve our support for their century of service

Labour Ministers in retreat over plans to make massive cuts to TA training

The Conservative candidate for Romsey and Southampton North, Caroline Nokes, has this week welcomed Labour’s latest U-turn – abandoning plans to make significant cuts to the Territorial Army.

On 15 October, the Government announced that weekly and monthly Territorial Army training would be cut by a massive £20 million – wiping out training for tens of thousands of Territorials. This £20 million was in addition to cuts of £23 million earlier in the current financial year. This represents a third of the Territorial Army’s annual budget. However, following pressure from Conservatives, the Labour Government has dropped the plans.

Since 2002, some 20,000 reservists have seen active service in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans, most of them from the TA. Fourteen Territorials have given their lives. Today some 550 Territorials are serving on the front-line in Afghanistan. Dozens more serve in the Balkans and other places across the globe. But the Labour Government has treated the TA shamefully.  In 1997 there were 57,000 members of the Territorial Army. Twelve years later numbers have fallen to 35,000.

Caroline said:

“Through good times and bad, the Territorial Army has given this country a proud century of service. Thanks to Conservative pressure, Gordon Brown has been forced to abandon his damaging and ill-thought out plans to cut TA training. Common sense has prevailed.

“But Gordon Brown’s embarrassing U-turn cannot undo the damage to morale and trust. The TA plays an important role in our community and nation, and Conservatives will always stand up in support of their invaluable work and service.”