Greg welcomes Labour's embarrassing retreat on TA funding

9.30.00am GMT Wed 28th Oct 2009

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman for Newcastle East Greg Stone has welcomed the belated recognition by the Labour government that its proposed £20m cuts to the funding of the Territorial Army - effectively scrapping training for the next year - was a very bad decision. After facing a barrage of criticism from all sides, the Prime Minister last night caved in and announced the cuts would be scrapped.

Greg said "I am delighted that the Government have finally listened to common sense on this issue following pressure from the opposition parties and senior figures on his own side. However, the question remains why this move was even proposed in the first place, and serious doubts persist about the competence of the Defence Secretary and the Government's level of understanding of the needs of the armed forces."