DerekPlews

@TheUCS473 @Helionbooks helion.co.uk/military-histo… youtu.be/eXJS5RHr3f0

For a taster, listen to my chat with @TheUCS473. Links to both in comments. @Helionbooks

So Harry and Megan are working with Netflix to produce a movie about the Siege of Musa Qal’eh in 2006. It’s based on Adam Jowett’s book, No Way Out, so, providing they stick to the facts, it should make for good viewing and I am looking forward to seeing it.

@SophyRidgeSky Only a fool is unafraid of gunfire. It is how you react to it that matters. You can either cower or you can act purposefully. That’s the difference between warriors and the rest of us mere mortals.

"If someone fires the starting gun, he isn't afraid of gunfire"

@TheUCS473 Actually, showing some integrity over the vote might have strengthened his case for higher office but dodging it may well have damaged him. In any case, he has only been in politics for 5 mins. Still an apprentice.

Was Al Carns playing the long game when he avoided voting on the NI veterans bill? If he actually won the race would he kick the legislation into touch and champion veterans and defence?

I did a talk on Shamrocks Among the Poppies recently in Newtownards, at which a number of Musa Qal’eh veterans were present. When asked by the audience if they would do it all again, the answer was “in a heartbeat “… or words to that effect.

@BenObeseJecty He can offer as much as he likes. I don’t trust him to deliver. Out, damned spot!

What’s been stopping him for the past year?

Pick up a copy of Shamrocks Among the Poppies here helion.co.uk/military-histo…

Shamrocks Among the Poppies started off as an attempt to tell the story of the Royal Irish Regiment soldiers who fought at Musa Qal’eh. But it grew to become a catalogue of high-level errors that led to the deployment of a force that was too small for the tasks it faced.

@AlistairCarns Interesting insight from a man who’s been in politics for five minutes. Bringing in yesterday’s man - who sold off our gold at knock-down price and introduced the disastrous PFI - is a sign of panic. It’s not the act of a man who is confident in his position.

This is v good news!

@AlistairCarns Wake up! The people clearly don’t want the snake oil you and Labour are pedalling. Don’t confuse a large majority on a small vote with a democratic mandate for the nonsense you are offering.

Tough election results for Labour and no point pretending otherwise. People are frustrated, and with good reason. We need a serious look at where policy, delivery and campaigning are falling short. We also shouldn’t kid ourselves that Reform or Green slogans amount to a serious plan for the country. They don’t. The challenges Britain faces are real, difficult and long term. The Birmingham Council is now more ‘split’ than ever before, but regardless we will continue to work to deliver for our constituents across these new challenges. The answer is not more noise or easy answers. It’s having the courage to take difficult decisions, deliver properly, rebuild a country that is secure and resilient. To all the Labour team, tough times don’t last, tough people do. Stay focused, keep moving forward and keep delivering. The aim is to lay your head on your pillow in three years and be confident that we did everything in our power to make the United Kingdom the best it possibly can be.

Geoff Hoon was not keen on the idea of pivoting to Afghanistan while we were still heavily engaged in Iraq. His lack of enthusiasm for Blair’s plan may have cost him his job as Defence Secretary.

Starmer and Hermer chose to tear up the protections, that Conservatives put in place, to stop our brave veterans being dragged through the courts in their old age. They claim the courts had left them no choice. Well guess what? My Shadow Attorney General stepped in, acted pro bono for veterans and won: the UKSC have reinstated immunities and confirmed that the vast majority of our Act is lawful. When a lower court said the Legacy Act breached the ECHR and the Windsor Framework, Labour did not appeal. It suited them to hide behind international law rather than stand up for those who served our country. There was no legal duty to betray our veterans. Starmer and Hermer chose to do that. Conservatives chose to fight for them. I'm proud of @DXW_KC, @AWNDinsmore and my Shadow Northern Ireland & Defence Teams for keeping up this fight. We are the ONLY party actually holding Labour to account. Farage did not bother to turn up last Monday and vote against Labour’s terrible anti-veterans bill. Another reason to VOTE CONSERVATIVE today.

@DrChrisParry It’s my own native birthplace And it’s on Irish soil They call it Londonderry On the banks of the Foyle 🤣☘️

I know that Londonderry made a huge contribution to victory in the Battle of the Atlantic.

@DrChrisParry Clearly, that would have been a very short discussion. But others must also bear responsibility for the dire state of our defence capability.🙄

'What Labour has done for the armed forces and defence, including strengthening military readiness'. Al - for your own sake, stop the pretence and the propaganda. Readiness is at an all time low and our defences are not credible.

@robert_lyman The only thing Carns knows about votes is how to dodge them!

Deliver what? You’re definitely not delivering on defence. Your government is precisely why people want a protest vote. Surprised you can’t see this.

Thankyou @NJ_Timothy you have described him and the issue accurately. “The greatest evils in the world will not be carried out by men with guns, but by men in suits sitting behind desks.” C.S. Lewis

@societyarmy @FamilyAtWar1418 Don’t forget this one. Musa Qal’eh vet, Danny Groves picking up the 1st runner-up award on my behalf for Shamrocks Among the Poppies. Sorry I couldn’t be there in person - busy leading a group across the Somme battlefield.

Following on from Wednesday's announcement of the winners, we are pleased to now share the full results for the 2025 Templer Medal and Chapple Prize: sahr.org.uk/event-report.p… Pictured, runners-up Drs Dermot Rooney and Joel Morley collect their awards at our AGM.