Commenting on today’s [Tuesday] Public Accounts Committee report Recruitment and retention in the armed forces, which says there is a shortfall in personnel and finds the number of people leaving early is at a ten-year peak, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey MP said:

“Given the intolerable burden faced by our armed forces since the invasion of Iraq, it is no surprise that the number of people leaving early has reached a ten-year high.

“We cannot expect the needs of our armed forces to be adequately met whilst they are faced with overstretch, downsizing and extended tours of duty.

“Concerns over the mental health, physical well-being and family life of personnel will only worsen, especially with many finding themselves exceeding the standard guidelines on periods away from home.

“There is one obvious measure to help ease this problem. The time has come to set a timetable for the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq.”