Labor and Lib Dems select military veterans to run for Conservative seats

Richard Foord is now a Liberal Democrat' Defense spokesman Photo: DALE CHERRY

Lib Dems and Labor 'parking tanks' on Tory lawn, fielding veterans in Tory seats.

Five veterans stand in Lib Dem target seats currently controlled Tories have been dubbed «Blue Wall patriots» in a party that has vowed to reverse troop cuts.

The candidates include Richard Foord, already an MP who won the 2022 Tiverton and Honiton elections. was a major in the army and is now the party's defense spokesman.

In Tunbridge Wells, where the Lib Dems led the council in local elections, the party's candidate is Mike Martin, a former army officer who served on several occasions. in Afghanistan.

Helen Maguire, an MP for the Royal Military Police, is standing in Epsom and Ewell, while Cameron Thomas, who spent 23 years in the Royal Air Force, is standing in Tewkesbury. Chris Coghlan, an army reservist, also supports the Lib Dems in Dorking and Horley.

Labour is also nominating veterans in about a dozen seats, including former Marine Colonel Alistair Carnes in Birmingham Selly Oak and Mike Tapp in Dover .

Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “I am delighted to welcome this team of Blue Wall Patriots.” These heroes will protect their communities and fly the Lib Dem flag against the Conservatives every day during this election.

“This is the biggest emphasis we place on our defense policy and military candidates. in a generation.

“From moldy military barracks to troop cuts that have left us with the smallest army since Napoleon, the Conservative Party's handling of the army is appalling. We need a fair deal for our troops and our candidates will stand up for it.”

It comes a day after Grant Shapps, the defense secretary, said Labor still cannot be trusted on defense issues , writing in The Telegraph that Keir Starmer would be «as useful in a conflict as a chocolate teapot.»

Line of Attack

The Conservatives are keen to make their defense record a key attack on the Labor Party after Rishi Sunak announced in April that defense spending would rise to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030. Labor said it was aiming for the same goal. but has not set a date for achieving it.

The Liberal Democrats have said they will scrap a 10,000-man cut to Tory troop levels that has created the smallest standing army since the 19th century.

< p> They also promised a complete overhaul of Trident with permanent submarine patrols in response to the war in Ukraine and improved military deployment standards.

A Lib Dem source said: “We've parked our tanks firmly on the Tory lawn this election , and we take aim at their shocking record in the armed forces.

“It’s time to give our Armed Forces the resources they need.

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“The Conservatives like to claim that they are the party of protection, but This campaign will look back at the years they failed our brave veterans and service personnel.»