Russell's Afghanistan challenge to Brown
July 14, 2009 12:00 AM
Bob Russell MP during a visit to troops in Afghanistan
Colchester MP Bob Russell has again challenged Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the House of Commons over "the failure of major European countries to commit troops, helicopters, resources and financial support" to southern Afghanistan.
He made his criticism after the Prime Minister gave a statement following the deaths of several British soldiers in the past week.
Mr Russell said: "This time last year, soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade were losing their lives in Afghanistan. I was critical then of the failure of major European countries.
"Bearing in mind the Prime Minister's reference in his statement to burden sharing and his specific comment that, 'in Afghanistan, international forces must take the lead on the front line', will he name the major European countries that over the past year have committed soldiers on the ground in Helmand Province, provided helicopters and other military equipment and provided financial support for the British effort in Helmand?"
Responding, the Prime Minister said: "Estonia and Denmark are working with the United States and Britain in Helmand." He added that other countries were providing troops for the election period in Afghanistan, £13 million had been contributed to a helicopter fund and France has sent just under 1,000 extra troops.
Afterwards, Mr Russell - who last year twice visited British troops in Helmand Province - rejected as "totally inadequate" what the Prime Minister had said. "While we should be grateful to Denmark and Estonia, small countries who have shown commitment to the wider interests of the civilised world, the major European countries have not deployed troops on the ground in southern Afghanistan. The French soldiers are not in Helmand Province."
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