Colin

@Peston That’s the way of politicians. Sack a lackey, claim incandescent anger at being mislead and then move on.

Downing Street says neither the PM or the then foreign secretary David Lammy knew that Peter Mandelson failed security vetting to be US ambassador till a few days ago. Sources say they are incandescent that they were not told. The clear implication is that the permanent under secretary at the foreign office Olly Robbins over-ruled the vetting recommendation and never told ministers. If that is right, and no official is denying that, it is impossible to see how he keeps his job

@MTSavill This stinks. Certainly in the military, if you failed vetting then you didn’t get the post. That somehow we are meant to believe that an FO lackey made this decision is for the birds, as they would suggest the FO doesn’t think security of the country matters.

This is very unusual and suggests that either the DV process has changed, or some corners were cut. If you are denied a DV, you can challenge as an individual. But this story claims UKSV was 'overruled' by the FCDO. 🧵

@RachelReevesMP @peterkyle They’ll have gone bust by then !!

Manufacturers have faced uncompetitive energy prices for too long. So today @peterkyle and I are confirming the final design of the British Industry Competitiveness Scheme, helping 10,000+ businesses cut electricity bills by up to 25% from April 2027. gov.uk/government/new…

@TrisOsborneMP On that I do hope you are right. The candidates that are predicted to be running in 28 doesn’t fill me with confidence though.

@lockwc1 You are entitled to that view. I believe our relationship is based on long standing shared history, language, culture + values of liberal democracy.

The consequences of the war in Iran will be a shock on global economic growth, including the UK. This is a war the UK is not involved in; this contrasts with those calling from the outset for offensive action like Nigel / Kemi

@MarieTidball I wonder where the guests have all gone ? To a house near you perhaps. That same house that could house a homeless family or maybe a veteran

You won't hear a peep about this from Farage, Tice or Jenrick. Under the Tories, up to 400 hotels were being used to house asylum seekers. With Labour, there are now just 185, with 11 more hotels re-opening to the public, saving the taxpayer £65 million a year.

@RayVon83016875 @MarcherReborn *off

@RayVon83016875 @MarcherReborn It has to be signed if by 500 civil servants to ensure it’s safe

Some of the 62 marching bands? Red Arrows? BBMF? RAF Central Band? Some of the 485 ceremonial horses? Parachute display teams?

@ATaylorFPGA @MarcherReborn The ceremony and pomp persuades an awful lot of people to visit our shores, where they spend a shed load more than the costs of the pomp etc. It’s the political vanity projects that need stopping. 2 completely useless carriers that we can’t even man or support would be a start

@MarcherReborn keep the reds and the BBMF, scrap everything else including all ceremonial duties and pomp. the nation is in a mess it needs to be fixed.

@MercianCRoW @MarcherReborn When did that happen. I was a SNCO and never got daily stewarding ever. Single accommodation yes, but high class hotel / not a chance

@MarcherReborn How about ending the sumptuous living conditions of the officer and SNCO ranks within the military. Do they really need daily stewarding services which likens a high class hotel

@sophgaston But we do need to get away from political vanity projects like the 2 floating rust bucket carriers that were never needed and completely unaffordable.

£10bn is not enough, not only because of the hard capability choices it would require. Defence is an industrial complex. It needs longer-term contracts so industry can bed in and invest too. We must break the cycle of frugality. It's expensive to be poor. thetimes.com/uk/defence/art…

@ForcesNews @LukePollard He’s a blanket stacker at best

Defence Minister hits back at "armchair generals"💺 In response to a BFBS Forces News poll, @LukePollard said he was "sick and tired" of conjecture of the readiness of our military, after recent criticism🔗⬇️ forcesnews.com/politics/defen…

@TrisOsborneMP Because precedence says you support your allies even if it is on the QT. That we haven’t is going to have a grave effect on UK / US relations for many years (IMHO)

@lockwc1 Not sure how you are therefore not confirming my point on precedence then.

@TrisOsborneMP I know I can. You stated the US didn’t help us in 82. They absolutely did, but it couldn’t be done openly for political reasons. I would suggest the bases come under the same criteria.

@lockwc1 You can look this up, Colin.

@Anglo_Japan45 And probably civil servants questioning why a soldier needs so many bullets in a war

Though I’m highly sympathetic with the criticism in general, I do suspect part of the reason it’s taking so long was a failure in rigorous costing during the SDR process. Main Building now trying to action the recommendations without the necessary resource envelope.

@NemoOutisUK @DrNShastriHurst @TomTugendhat Covid reference was versus your national debt comment. Didn’t deny 2010 or 2015 SDRs. But i served through the late 80s and 90s and the cuts were brutal as a “Peace dividend” Now regardless of the past we need to rebuild, It will be a long and v difficult road

@lockwc1 @DrNShastriHurst @TomTugendhat 🙄 Except the SDR 2010 scrapped the LPDs, Type 22s & both carriers, cut the Army & 40% of their tanks, scrapped RAF maritime surveillance. Then the SDR 2015 reduced the frigate force & canned the RAF strike force. Way before Covid. Oh and Boris cut the Army to 73,000.

Quite right from @TomTugendhat 👇 Less time blaming the past, more time preparing for the future. Where is the Defence Investment Plan which this Government promised last year?

@Keir_Starmer Can we get it to fit at all ?

The NHS should fit around your life, not the other way around.

@TrisOsborneMP Your question should have been. Did the US openly support us ? For the answer i’d suggest asking any of your ex military colleagues who were serving in 82.

@lockwc1 Did the US get involved in the Falklands when our territory was invaded; did NATO? Members have a track record of not getting involved in others conflicts. Long precedence.

@paul_d_stevens @DrNShastriHurst @TomTugendhat @Conservatives I was in the military the entire time you quote and it was 1990 when the reductions really started biting. Can’t speak personally after 1999, but the 90s were brutal

@lockwc1 @DrNShastriHurst @TomTugendhat @Conservatives Good. I hope his colleagues are as candid. But it all started a lot earlier than 1990 in my book: 1979.

@NemoOutisUK @DrNShastriHurst @TomTugendhat Yep we should have just allowed people to die during Covid and let all the SMEs collapse you 🤡

@DrNShastriHurst @TomTugendhat We’d love to move on from your party’s decision to slash the Army to the bone, decimate the Navy, and reduce the RAF whilst doubling the National Debt, but we don’t have that option

@paul_d_stevens @DrNShastriHurst @TomTugendhat @Conservatives He has been on various media outlets admitting just that, but adding that it all started in 1990. So the reality is the politicians regardless of party are to blame as they diverted the money elsewhere to curry favour and votes

@DrNShastriHurst @TomTugendhat No, let’s have @Conservatives like @TomTugendhat spend some time reflecting honestly on their party’s past and being uncharacteristically candid about where the blame really lies for the state of today’s Britain. It isn’t just with the guys who’ve been in power for 21 months.