Defence Reform

Stephen Phillips Excerpts

Monday 27th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

I want to end the presumption that those at the centre know better how to micro-manage the services than those who are trained and have spent a lifetime in those services. We need to accept that, while politicians have a particular role in policy, the application of that policy should fall to those with the real expertise, namely the armed forces chiefs themselves.

[Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

Like all Conservative Members, I welcome the statement, not least because it deals with so many of the inadequacies with which my right hon. Friend was left by the previous Administration. Does he believe that his statement, and the publication of the report in full, tell us all that we need to know about behaviour of the present Government as opposed to that of the previous Government, who tried to bury bad news in the form of the Gray report?

[Dr Fox]

Perhaps the greatest difference between us is that the Labour party tried to bury the Gray report, whereas we gave Bernard Gray a leading job in the Government. That shows that we have faith in the analysis.