Independent Defence Authority

Open Letter to all new MPs with a Defence connection: independentdefenceauthority.org/mps-letter/ @JohnHealey_MP @AlistairCarns

Open Letter to all new MPs with a Defence connection: independentdefenceauthority.org/mps-letter/

With Thanks to @CharlieRadUK and the Veterans Law Project independentdefenceauthority.org/veterans-fight…

@FTusa284 @LOS_Fisher @larisamlbrown @SheridanDani @jeromestarkey @MarkNicolDM @shashj @bealejonathan @sima_kotecha @MattChorley @ShippersUnbound @robfox45 @DefenceEye_news @DefenceHQ @DefenceES It would be easy to find 3-4 Bn of savings and improve defence efficiency without loss of capabilities!

@LOS_Fisher @larisamlbrown @SheridanDani @jeromestarkey @MarkNicolDM @shashj @bealejonathan @sima_kotecha @MattChorley @ShippersUnbound @robfox45 @DefenceEye_news @DefenceHQ @DefenceES Defence Eye reports on the search for £3-4bn of in-yr savings at MoD. defenceeye.co.uk/2024/06/05/cut…

Folks - with Purdah there is no defence select committee - so the IDA are influencing defence focused politicians from all parties, working to talk to the Labour potential front bench team & engaging into the MoD - we wait the new team of what ever flavour

IDA Winter Update: independentdefenceauthority.org/winter-update/ @DefencePeople @DefenceHQ @CommonsDefence

I am supporting a debate on changing the service complaints system. #forewarned petition.parliament.uk/signatures/139…

@a_ottaway @Brockholme @AdvocateChar @VeteransAPPG @VeteransGovUK @DefenceHQ Oh only red teaming you can control so the output doesnt upset the boss ;-)

Having binge watched #MrBatesVsThePostOffice to its conclusion, the parallels are incredible. Organisations which will protect ‘the lie’ at all costs. How did we reach the point where, the costs to uphold these lies far outweighs the expenditure in looking after people properly?

@AndyAitcheson Targets will fall when hit ........

300m away from you

@gregbagwell I and the team are arguing for doing things differently - take the burden off operational commanders and let them focus on operational output - why should a 1* on pre-deployment leave over Christmas be considering a Service Complaint? Is it good for them or the complainint?

@IDA_UKDefence You’re arguing for a more professional, better resourced HR function IN defence - we might violently agree on that one.

Recent reporting into unacceptable behaviours in the Armed Forces has been informed and used by activists to call for an independent body to “represent” serving members and veterans. But, as they are the ones vying for the role behind closed doors let’s look at their case? 🧵1/16

@gregbagwell Everyone else has a professionally trained HR staff & an HR department - they deal with grievances in less than 60 days, they support their staff and have a people centric focus, and are ultimately accountable to shareholders - why is defence scared of independent oversight?

@IDA_UKDefence I’m of the view that everyone else does it that way. As I said you aren’t going to agree and 500 serving people a year may well agree with you. I’m beginning to suspect that the majority of your team have had grievances in the past which shapes their view too.

@gregbagwell And when that doesn't work then can arbitrate, but defence doesn't have trained HR staff in units or formations to do what corporates that ACAS deal with do -you seem too fixed in the view "we've always done it that way ..." thats the single worst way of keeping ahead of the game

@IDA_UKDefence Even ACAS subscribes to an internal process. acas.org.uk/grievance-proc…

@gregbagwell The positive impact on recruiting and retention alone would save defence millions - the messages the team are getting since the sky documentary, especially from serving personnel tell of real issues - thats just simple fact

@gregbagwell HH Lyons, Wigston, Atherton, HMICFRS all criticise the Service justice system -yet the MoD does nothing about it -a properly constituted IDA would bring disparate elements all funded separately together into one package able to support defence and make it more efficient not less

@gregbagwell Its not - where does providing an ombudsman function for serving personnel and veterans with an ACAS type remit combined with an OFSTED type inspectorate become a wider HR Department? It can complement HR and other areas by acting as a conscience - simple as

@IDA_UKDefence None of which fulfil the function you propose. You want to be the HR department on behalf of the employees, and that is something entirely different.

@gregbagwell They dont disagree - we agree with their logic but argue that if it isnt outside defence then it can and will be influenced. Thats doesn't stop it working with defence for the greater good - why would defence be scared of such a body?

@IDA_UKDefence Neither the Wigston nor the Atherton report agrees with you.

@gregbagwell CQC, OFSTED, Environment Agency......

@IDA_UKDefence Hers just 4 and I only looked on the first 3 pages: committees.parliament.uk/committees/?Ac…

@gregbagwell No other department of state is held to account purely by its related select committee - most if not all have an independent body providing that input to the department to try and help it work more efficiently - the DSC isnt resourced or designed to do that.

@IDA_UKDefence That’s the job of the Commons Select Committee.