You are in > manchester.com  > News > Cameron accuses govt of breaking military covenant

Politics

Cameron accuses govt of breaking military covenant

04/03/2008

The Conservative leader David Cameron has accused the government of breaking the military covenant.

Speaking as the Conservatives launched their own review of the covenant today, Mr Cameron said he was ashamed of the way British forces were treated.

Mr Cameron said that he was "ashamed that we as a country can ask so much but give so little".

The Tories have launched a commission, chaired by the author Frederick Forsyth and Falklands veteran Simon Weston, which will look at recuperation for troops, training and families' welfare as well as access to equipment and email and telephone facilities.

The Conservative leader called for more contact time for British troops with their families via telephone and for "leave that starts the moment you step foot on British soil rather than when you actually leave the middle of Afghanistan".

"Any government that values our armed forces and respects the military covenant shouldn't sit on its hands and say, 'there's nothing we can do'. It should roll up its sleeves and work day and night to make sure they happen."