Reporters are to be banned from the Afghan front line once a date for the election has been set, while senior officers will be prohibited from making public speeches and talking to reporters, it has been confirmed.
Today’s Daily Telegraph reported that the Tories have attacked the government for planning a "truth blackout" about the Afghanistan war over the election period.
The newspaper suggested that journalists would be barred from being "embedded" with troops on the front line, while senior officers would not be allowed to give public speeches or talk to reporters for the duration of the campaign.
And MoD websites will also be "cleansed" of any "non-factual" material including anything containing troops' opinions of the war, according to a memo leaked to the paper.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said he would table an emergency question in Parliament on Monday demanding an explanation.
"There is clearly one rule for Gordon Brown, when he wants to use the armed forces as political props, and another for reporters who want to tell the public what is being done in their name," he said.
But a Ministry of Defence spokesman said that the restrictions were necessary in order to comply with the rules governing government communications during an election campaign.
"During the period between an election being called and taking place, communications activity across government is restricted in order to be fair to all political parties.
"Rules are issued by the Cabinet Secretary and this has been the case for many years.
"It is acceptable during purdah to continue to provide factual information. The MoD recognises that it is vital to continue to tell the public about the efforts and achievements of our forces in Afghanistan during this period and has agreed principles with the Cabinet Office that allow this.
"These principles are set out in a document that has been sent to MoD staff and will be issued formally once the election is called. These principles are being briefed to defence correspondents at a meeting next week."
Appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show yesterday Fox also indicated he intended to call ministers to the Commons to explain an apparent shortfall in new land vehicles.
While on a visit to Afghanistan on Saturday, the prime minister announced the procurement of 200 new vehicles to replace the Snatch Land Rovers currently used by British forces.
But the Conservatives claim this is only half the number they believed had originally been ordered.
"What happened to the other 200? Tomorrow in Parliament, I will be tabling questions to find out whether this is yet another cut to the equipment on Treasury orders,” he said.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd