Local Lib Dems have tried to derail our campaign to support our brave troops serving in Afghanistan. Last week we launched our ‘Stockings for Soldiers’ campaign to send treats to servicemen and women for Christmas.  Rather than supporting the campaign Sal Brinton, prospective Lib Dem MP for Watford has instead belied our attempts to boost morale and spread Christmas cheer, saying that it is against advice from the MOD.

Rather than bowing down to bureacratss we spoke to many soldiers who have returned from Afghanistan. Without fail they all supported our campaign and said that this is just what soldiers need to boost morale and to show that we are all thinking of them.

In response to this I wrote a letter to Sal Brinton:

Dear Sal,

I have read on your website that you are concerned about the impact of our ‘Treats for Troops’ campaign.  I had hoped this would not become a political issue and in the interest of doing all we can not to derail support for troops I am writing to explain our position on this campaign.

Rather than dealing with the bureaucrats running the MOD, we spoke directly to servicemen and women who have recently returned from serving in Afghanistan, all of whom have strongly supported this kind of programme. We have also taken a great deal of care ensuring we comply with all regulations and guidelines both from the BFPO and the Regiments we will be sending the parcels to.  We have also suggested that people who may be mindful of the concerns you raise or would not like to send parcels, can instead make contributions to SSAFA Operational Welfare Fund.

I strongly applaud your recommendation that people donate money to causes that support our troops. I would, however, ask that whilst you rightly promote these causes you do not publicly criticise ours and dishearten those supporting the troops. I would therefore appreciate it if you remove these comments from your website.

Kind Regards,

Richard Harrington