From left: Rear Admiral Martin Alabaster, Air Commodore Harry Atkinson
Brigadier David Allfrey and First Minister Alex Salmond
This wasn't reported in the Scotsman or the Herald but it may be of interest to some readers. The Scottish Government's continuing support for military personnel and veterans was top of the agenda on Tuesday 5 May at an unprecedented meeting between heads of the Army, Navy and RAF in Scotland and the First Minister and the Scottish ministerial team.
The meeting focused on the government's Commitments Paper, which outlines work to support military personnel through improving access to housing, health, transport, education and training and was attended by ministers across all portfolio areas. The article continues here.
Isn't it strange that the labour/libdem executive, who were the Scottish government for 8 years, made no efforts to meet with our military heid bummers? I'm pleased to hear of this meeting because I believe politicians should be aware of the workings of our military. A good move Mr Salmond.
My thanks to my reader CD
11 comments:
What a coup for Alex.
Maybe I better rephrase that...
Auch Conan, yer always sharp as a tack! Pity the papers didn't write about it isn't it.
In the Torygraph today, not complimentary. The columnist Alan Cochrane ranted on about Salmond's hypocrisy and completely missed the point - this meeting is about the interface between the military and devolved matters - healthcare, housing, education etc. Long overdue, and most welcome. Hopefully this will help issues like NHS waiting lists, social housing, which disadvantage Armed Forces families who move around often.
The previous admins. saw defence as a devolved matter, i.e. they kept well away.
But don't you think Mek, it would have been more sensible to foster a relationship with the Scottish part of the military? After all they are a large part of Scottish life.
Have read the raving Dundonian today Jess but if he's raving about the SNP then they're doing something right. :)
Thanks for the link to your M.O.D. blog on the FM's meeting with the brass.
As you've probably realised, I don't read many blogs, and I feel guilty about not giving your excellent blog the attention it deserves.
It's purely a question of time - I find all of my time - too much of it fact - consumed by my own efforts, at the expense of my other commitments and my music.
I'm also neglecting my own writing. Maybe I'm being too long-winded in my blog - it's a fault of mine, one of many.
Peter you're far too complimentary to me but thank you. Blog reading is time consuming and I find some days I've lost a couple of hours if I'm not interrupted and told the time.
You write eloquently, I tend to do short, magazine-styled posts. That's the style I thought would suit my time limits, so although I do research, I usually leave my reader having to do more!
Luckily most enjoy a challenge.
Good on Alex. He'll need to have a personal relationship with these gentlemen - it'll help when setting up the Scottish Defense Forces.
I gather that Mr Salmond is not keen on nuclear, will he sell the submarines off or should they sail for Southamapton ?
I expect he had a wee word with the rear-admiral about that banned, don't you think?
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