14/10/2009

 As Parliament this week heard the grim roll call of 37 service personnel who lost their lives during the course of the Summer recess and the government committed to send more troops out, Robin Walker, Parliamentary Candidate for Worcester today spoke out on the importance of a clear mission in Aghanistan and his determination to see that our armed forces get the support they need

 Robin welcomed the strong focus of the Conservative conference on supporting our armed forces in Afghanistan and at home and the announcement that the former head of the armed forces, General Sir Richard Dannatt, would be joining the Conservative benches in Parliament.

 Robin said

 "The sacrifices being made by our armed forces put into perspective the political noise generated by the party conferences over the last few weeks. The sombre mood this week in Parliament is reflective of wider national concern over the human cost of our mission in Afghanistan. I believe David Cameron is right to be calling for a re-think but that it will also be an inevitable consequence of any re-think that our country will have to do its bit, stay the course and see things through in this difficult part of the world. We must have a clear mission and a clear timeline within which we can bring our troops home but we must never forget that our commitment in Afghanistan is to defending Britain and the world from fundamentalism and terror."

 "What would be totally unacceptable would be to stay on half-heartedly or to fail to support those forces that have been committed.  Every MP should be doing their bit to ensure that our forces have the resources they need to stay safe in theatre and to be looked after properly on their return - respecting the military covenant. That is why I am backing a strategic defence review that will determine what those resources should be and make sure they are being allocated to the right areas and that is also why I am pleased that the Conservatives will be gaining valuable military experience on our benches in Parliament."

 Next week Robin will meet with representatives of the Royal British Legion, he has signed up for their campaign to do his bit for the British Armed Forces Family, saying

"I am determined to do my duty by Worcester and to do my duty by our service men and women by making sure they have the support they deserve at home and abroad. That is why I have been proud to sign up to do my bit for the armed forces. I recommend that everyone does so as well at http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/campaigning/the-legion-manifesto."