Labour MP breaks ranks in MoD row

Published on Saturday 1 August 2009 20:01

A SENIOR aide to the Defence Secretary has described the government's decision to try to claw back compensation from wounded soldiers as "profoundly wrong" and "politically bonkers".

Eric Joyce has broken ranks and turned his sights on Bob Ainsworth after claiming the government was in danger of losing touch and could end up "dangling" from the rope of public opinion.

Writing in Scotland on Sunday the former army major urged the government to abandon a court action to cut payments to two injured servicemen. Joyce, who acts as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Ainsworth, described the Ministry of Defence's move as a serious error and said he was willing to sacrifice his position to oppose it.

Last week the legal bid by the MoD to cut the compensation awarded to Corporal Anthony Duncan and Royal Marine Matthew McWilliams, attracted widespread criticism. The furore led Ainsworth to make a U-turn and announce he would bring forward a review of compensation for members of the armed forces.

However, the MoD has not dropped its appeal and is awaiting the judges' ruling in October, which will form part of its reassessment of soldiers' compensation.

The usually ultra-loyal Falkirk MP said his deep unease over the situation left him unable to hold his tongue. Joyce said: "A victory for the MoD in October at the Court of Appeal would come against the backdrop of a giant neon sign spelling out the word 'pyrrhic'. It would represent a victory for bureaucracy over bravery. The appeal should be dropped."

The former Black Watch soldier also challenged the government to commit to not removing a single penny from the sums awarded to service personnel whose cases were currently being contested.

A source close to Joyce conceded his remarks were "way off piste", but said "Eric doesn't intend to resign as Bob Ainsworth's PPS and it would really be up to them (the government] to sack him.

Eric would rather face the likelihood of being sacked than remaining silent over this."