MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Don’t forget UK troops in Falklands, says Conservative MP

Thanet North representative Roger Gale made a visit in mid winter (when the worst snowfall in 20 years), but was impressed by the morale of the forces.

United Kingdom Defence chiefs should not let the war in Afghanistan distract them from the needs of other British soldiers around the world such as the Falkland Islands, warns a Tory MP.

Last week Thanet North representative Roger Gale paid a visit to some of the 1,300 troops stationed in the Falkland Islands, who have maintained a large military presence since the Argentine invasion and subsequent conflict of 1982.

A former Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Mr Gale told Kent on Sunday he was concerned soldiers in the overseas territory were being short-changed by the Government.

He said: “It’s a question of resources because a lot of the facilities need upgrading and refurbishing.

“The troops are doing the best they possibly can with what they’ve got, but we’re getting to the point where if we don’t invest money soon then it will be much more expensive later.

“If we are going to continue to do this job of protecting the Falklands and its interests then we have to have the ships, the planes and the soldiers, and they have to be properly equipped.

“Afghanistan is the priority and that has to come top of the list – we all understand that.

“But please don’t overlook what is needed in places like the Falklands and other places where we have a military presence.”

Mr Gale, 65, visited the Falklands as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, which seeks to provide MPs with first-hand knowledge of the role and functions of the Army, Navy and RAF.

As well as being able to talk with personnel at the Mount Pleasant military base, he also spent a night on board the South Atlantic patrol ship HMS Gloucester.

In total Mr Gale travelled 16,000 miles during his week away – 12,000 of which came during the final 36 hours of the tour due to him arriving in the Falklands several days later than planned.

He said: “Part of the purpose of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme is to let our soldiers know they are appreciated, which is why we went in mid-winter when the weather is at its worst.

“However, it just so happened that the Falklands experienced its heaviest snowfall in 20 years last week, so they had to shut the entire military base down.

“We ended up marooned on Ascension Island for three days, which ironically is just below the equator and was blazing hot.

“But we were extremely lucky because travelling with us was Gordon Moulds, who is Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands and is very knowledgeable indeed. He gave us the best briefing we could have hoped for”.

When Mr Gale did eventually make it onto the Islands, he said he was left in no doubt that “what we are militarily engaged in is both necessary and right”.

He added: “The morale out there is great. Any soldier, sailor or airman offered the opportunity to grumble will grumble, but they know they’re doing a good job.

“Outside of Afghanistan the Falklands has the largest deployment of UK troops, which surprised me at first. “But I’m so glad I went because it’s made me realise how vital the Islands are as a strategic base”. (Yourthatnet News).-