Dannatt Defends Tory Proposal

The former head of the Army has defended his decision to potentially become a Conservative peer.

General Sir Richard Dannatt stood down from his high profile military role just weeks ago.

He came under heavy criticism from the government for suggesting troop numbers in Afghanistan were inadequate.

This week the Tories said General Dannatt could join its benches in the House of Lord.

A peerage would allow the general to become a minister in any future Conservative government.

He said his decision to potentially enter politics was not motivated by a "long-term plot", instead was of national interest.

Describing the Afghan mission as "critical", General Dannatt said it was important to get "these issues right in the interests of the nation and... the armed forces and the safety of our citizens".

Senior Labour figures, who vented annoyance at the general's public statement while in office, have questioned how long his association with the Tory has been going on.

Lord Guthrie, an ex-chief of the defence staff, urged General Dannatt to sit as a cross bencher and not take the Tory party whip.

"I will give advice to anyone, Labour or Conservative, but I wouldn't want to be associated with any one political party."

General Dannatt said he was contacted by David Cameron a few weeks ago. He said the Conservative leader was seeking advice.

"He put it to me that he was concerned that his defence team - at a time when defence was really important, and Afghanistan was really critical - lacked expert understanding, and would I be prepared to advise his team?

"And, if the Conservatives win the election, would I be prepared to take a peerage and maybe join his ministerial team?"

News of the announcement was leaked during this week's Tory party conference in Manchester.

General Dannatt said its release indicates that the proposition "wasn't a long term plot we've been hatching up for a long time".

He added: "The mission in Afghanistan is really critical, we will succeed, we must succeed, it's got to be properly resourced, and frankly if I'd waited an elegant year, that could be a little bit too long."

(PR/BMcc)