MP pokes fun at Labour desertions
Today John pressed the Government about its poor Army recruitment figures during Defence Questions in the House of Commons.
John asked,
“I suggest the Government should not take any lessons from Labour about manpower shortages given today’s news of its desertions!”
“The National Audit Office has recently confirmed that Capita has not recruited the required numbers of Regulars and Reservists in any year since the contract began in 2012. Clearly extra resources are needed, but may I also suggest the Government reinstates 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, as it was the best-recruited unit within the Army when it was disbanded a few years ago?”
The Minister, Rt Hon Mark Lancaster MP, paid tribute to John’s long campaign regarding the 2nd Battalion, and said that the contract with Capita was being modified.
John said afterwards,
“Some estimates suggest it can take up to 300 days between a potential recruit clicking the computer button to entering the training pipeline. This is far too long. The Government has now got to put this right and commit the necessary resources.”
“We should remember that, regardless of our misguided interventions since 2003, hostile nation states remain the greater threat.”
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