Lib Dems say buy US helicopters

Kevin Davis, the Conservative Prospective MP for Yeovil, has today written to the Leader of the Lib Dems, Nick Clegg, concerning his remarkable comments on early morning BBC radio where he said that because UK armed forces equipment was in such a poor state we should be buying helicoptors "off the shelf from the Americans".

These comments come despite the protestations of local Lib Dems that they support UK helicopter manufacturing in Yeovil.


The letter says:

Dear Sir,

An open letter to the Rt Hon. Nick Clegg MP – Leader of the Lib Dems

Early this morning, on BBC Radio 5, you discussed your view that the armed forces strategy in Afghanistan is wrong. Specifically you mentioned the lack of equipment that could be deemed 'fit for purpose'. Whilst I agree with this aspect of what you said I was alarmed to hear you say that the current helicopter force should be replaced by 'off the shelf helicopters from the Americans'.

You may not be aware of the horror with which Yeovil constituents at Agusta Westland helicopters will meet such an announcement by you. It has taken considerable effort to get the Labour Government, in the teeth of a recession, to commit to the much needed Lynx Wildcat helicopter (formerly known as Future Lynx). Back last year the Lib Dems argued that there should be defence expenditure cuts to pay for tax cuts and there was then a heightened fear that the only way this could be achieved was to renege on the Wildcat programme. I am immensely proud that the Conservative front bench have argued strongly that the Wildcat is the 'only game in town' and should therefore be proceeded with - making the point that had the Government done this earlier then we would not be in the position of having armed forces lacking equipment.

You of course might have been better informed had your local Yeovil Lib Dem MP taken the trouble to attend more defence debates in the House of Commons - I gather there have been something like forty debates since 2001 and yet David Laws has only attended two of them.

I can understand that as leader of a minor party you are often driven to say extraordinary things to get attention from the press. When the things you say start to give succour to the Taleban, which then threatens lives on the front line, or threatens the jobs and livelihoods of many thousands who work in Yeovil at - or indirectly for - Agusta Westland you need to be clear what it is you are saying.

Yours Faithfully,

Kevin Davis

Conservative Prospective MP for Yeovil