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UK generals ordered to travel second class
March 30, 2010

Gordon Brown has ordered admirals, generals and air chief marshals to travel second class in a bid to cut costs, the MailOnline reported on Sunday.

The prime minister introduced the new rule, which states that all members of armed forces personnel must use standard class when travelling on trains and airplanes, regardless of their rank, the Web site stated.

But the rule has been criticized by Maj. Gen. Patrick Cordingley, who led the 7th Armored Brigade “Desert Rats” during the first Gulf War and who insists there are “very good reasons” for Brown, seen here at Labour’s Scottish spring conference yesterday. Maj. Gen. Cordingley is facing controversy over the new rule. He said, “I couldn’t care less about officers’ personal comfort, but there are practical reasons why this is a pity. There are often times when you are looking at restricted papers that would be of interest to people such as journalists. If it is on a computer, people can look over and read quite happily over your shoulder in standard class.” The new rule is also likely to cause more controversy as MPs are still entitled to first-class train travel, with no plans for this to change.

Former Foreign Minister and Labour MP Denis McShane deemed Mr. Brown’s decision “humiliating.” He said, “Surely there are limits to how much humiliation we impose on senior officers?” Mr. McShane was outraged when he saw an Irish Guards major general and his colleagues sitting in a packed standard class train carriage recently.

He added to The Sunday Times: “I do not mind how MPs travel or whom they meet on the train, but it is a rum show when a major general from the Irish Guards has to travel on an off-peak, cheap-day, standard-class return ticket to make modest economies for the military.” However, Junior Defense Minister Kevan Jones defended the rule, insisting: “It’s not intended to humiliate anyone. It is about getting value for money.”

Source :- http://www.todayszaman.com