ARE WE DEMANDING TOO MUCH OF THOSE IN THE FRONT LINE BOTH ABROAD AND AT HOME?

Sitting here on the Waterfront is a privilege. But with it comes sorrow at times and these days often tinged with anger; and as I watch international events the anger and frustration at times becomes intense.

HMS Cumberland and HMS Duke of York are both on active service in the waters off Libya rescuing people in the current humanitarian crisis. These ships are due to be scrapped.

Last week I watched HMS Liverpool slip her moorings and sail past, again, destined for the scrap heap within the year.

HMS Campbeltown has steamed in this week and, unexpectedly, for its final visit to its homeport of Liverpool, for it was built across the water at the famous now defunct Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Yard in 1987.

With 255 crew, some of whom come from Liverpool, we are now informed that this is her last visit; that due to the defence cuts she will be decommissioned even though at the time of the announcement Laura Jones, Staff Writer in the Liverpool Daily Post (4.3.2011 page 10) reports that this was just “as she was preparing to deploy for counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean and after a refit and full crew training had readied her for duty.”

Her Commanding Officer, Commander Keri Harris RN comments, and again I’m quoting from Ms Jones’ excellent article:

“In the past months, we have been able to operate at sea with a tangible output, training the many specialists who encompass the navy’s wide operational remit. Now we are faced with the reality of decommissioning a fine warship and disbanding her close-knit crew, which was never going to be easy.”

It is even more disconcerting when one realises that the crew have no guarantee of a secure future; most certainly some will lose their jobs as a result of Whitehall’s insistence that the Royal Navy must lose at least 5,000 personnel as part of the deficit commitment.

We ask that our Armed Forces be prepared to make the ultimate individual sacrifice. We have currently lost 358 personnel. Everyone of our troops works under the weight of the question, will I be the three hundred and fifty Ninth, and if not, then which number will I be?

It reminds me of my Uncles who were also killed in action during WW2 on RAF bombing operations over Germany. I grew up with this quote in my head as a young boy; my uncle and namesake had told Dad that the average life expectancy was four missions before being shot down. And guess what? He was shot down on his fourth mission. At age 21 that takes guts. And it is no less true today.

We should not be hamstringing our Armed Forces. Let us look closer to home where we have a mother on benefits who, it is now discovered, has on the strength of those benefits, had a swimming pool installed for her family.

The mind boggles.

It is not right that our Armed Forces and our Police Force, committing themselves to a lifetime’s service, the latter for 30 years, now live and work under the threat of the axe falling upon them.

The Government is right to take drastic action. We know and accept that. But let us also think these through carefully.

The Bank of England

I am pleased that Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, has made it clear that, in his opinion, the banks are just not doing enough. He has surely fired a warning shot that makes it clear. When the Bank of England replaces the Financial Services Authority, these banks are going to have to do a lot, lot better and that Mr King is just the person to ensure this.

The banks are dilatory and remaining firmly self-serving.

Ian Bradley Marshall
LIVERPOOL
6 March 2011