ARMY VEHICLES SHOULD BE BUILT HERE - DANNATT

The former head of the British army has told how Government delays in awarding defence contracts to Tyneside were putting soldiers’ lives at risk, writes The Journal

General Sir Richard Dannatt set out his views in a wide-ranging speech looking at the future of the British army.

And, speaking to The Journal, he warned of the need to protect Tyneside’s manufacturing skills.

Sir Richard, who is a defence adviser to the Conservative Party, said the British army will be “practically falling apart” by the time the war in Afghanistan is over.

And he warned that Islamic extremism must be tackled now before it spreads even further throughout the UK.

The general also praised North East families for the support they have shown to relatives fighting in foreign wars.

He said the public who lined the streets in sympathy during funerals for soldiers were “a powerful source of support” to the army.

Sir Richard told a packed Newcastle University lecture theatre that his time in the army had convinced him the war in Afghanistan was necessary.

He said: “I have no problem if countries want religion to play a greater role in their nation if they do it through the democratic process.

“But there are those who want to forcibly convert others to their own views, and if we do not confront it there then we will find we have to do so one day in Spain, or in Dover, or in Newcastle.

“I get quite passionate about this because I do not want a future where we are fighting Islamic extremism in the shadow of St James’.”

He backed a current defence review looking at the future of the armed forces and warned the Government it had to be ready to rebuild the army.

“The army will be completely and utterly worn out when we are finished in Afghanistan. It is a very serious situation – I mean wheels falling off tanks.

“And I can’t see any national leader being willing to allow that to continue. It is a difficult situation and the ones (politicians) I’m talking to are hearing that.”

Sir Richard’s speech packed out two lecture theatres at the University’s Herschel Building as soldiers new and old listened to the former Chief of the General Staff’s views on defence requirements.

Speaking to The Journal afterwards, Sir Richard urged a quick decision for defence contracts on Tyneside.

BAE Systems have spent over a year waiting for the Government to announce whether or not it will be building the FRES Scout armoured vehicle and refitting the Warrior vehicles.

Jobs at the Scotswood Road factory in Newcastle are already under threat, but bosses say they could save hundreds if the Government announced the winning bidder.

Sir Richard said: “All the military, the army, is very keen that this decision is taken and progressed as quickly as possible.”

He added: “I think ministers see there is this need to get momentum. We are hoping to have this progressed before we get into a moratorium at the General Election. Because the army in Afghanistan needs a new scout vehicle as quickly as possible.

“This is not just a ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have’ situation, it is something we really need in Afghanistan.

“The old units, they came into service in 1974. They are old, with 60s and 70s technology and we really need this new vehicle.”

During the battle to bring jobs to Tyneside politicians and union bosses have warned that if the work goes elsewhere it could spell disaster for the factory. The knock-on effect, they have warned, is that Britain will lose its last domestic defence manufacturing capabilities if support is not given to the Tyneside factory.

Sir Richard said it was not his place to say who should win the contract but agreed it was important the UK retained its skills base.

He added: “It is important to keep UK national expertise in all defence capabilities. It would be wrong of me to say which company should produce FRES but certainly a big factory in this part of the world by BAE Systems would really hope they get some of the work.

“An important part of the deal should be ensuring there is work for the British producing British capability.”

This article is reproduced from www.journallive.co.uk . Click here to read the original article published on 13th February 2010.