Half UK troops to return from Iraq
Monday, 08 Oct 2007 19:54
Gordon Brown announced the purchase of 140 new Mastiff patrol vehicles
British forces in Iraq are to be cut from 5,500 now to just 2,500 next spring, Gordon Brown has announced.
The prime minister told the House of Commons this afternoon that the move would come amid a scheduled step-down to a second period of 'overwatch' next spring.
He said good progress had been made in training up Iraqi security forces, which now number 30,000 in Basra, and added that the situation in Iraq's second city had been "calmer" since British forces withdrew from their base inside Basra in early September.
"In the spring of next year, and guided as always by the advice of military commanders, we plan to move to a second stage of overwatch where the coalition would maintain a more limited, re-intervention capacity and where the main focus will be on training and mentoring," he said.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of a Basra development commission, a doubling of internet facilities for UK forces in Iraq and the addition of 140 Mastiff patrol vehicles commissioned by the Ministry of Defence.
But Conservative leader David Cameron warned that it would be difficult for British forces to re-intervene effectively and criticised Mr Brown for not announcing the initial reduction of forces to 4,500 by Christmas to parliament.
"I have to say to the prime minister this is of a different order of magnitude," he said.
"This is not double-counting of government spending, this is about dealing with people's lives and the families of our brave servicemen. Does he agree with me that this is not an acceptable way for a prime minister to behave?"
Mr Brown responded by saying today's "major" announcement constituted the more important, "long-term strategy of overwatch".
"And may I add, I make no apologies for visiting our troops in Iraq," he said to raucous cheers from the government benches and in reference to criticism of his decision to stage the trip at the same time as the Conservative party conference.
"The criticism of me would have been if I had come to this house without visiting our troops in Iraq. If we are to have responsible politics in this country then ministers who hold responsibility for the safety and security of our armed forces must visit our armed forces, listen to what they say, draw on their advice and then make their decision."