Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, will promise troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan a 25% rebate on their council tax today when he speaks to the Labour faithful at the annual party conference in Bournemouth.
Less than a week after General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the British Army, condemned the apathy shown to British troops, Mr Browne will appeal to the public for strong support for the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
BY CATHERINE MacLEOD, Political Editor
Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, will promise troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan a 25% rebate on their council tax today when he speaks to the Labour faithful at the annual party conference in Bournemouth.
Less than a week after General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the British Army, condemned the apathy shown to British troops, Mr Browne will appeal to the public for strong support for the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Browne's aide said: "Des will be reminding people the troops are risking their lives on our behalf, and we have to understand what they're doing and why they're doing it."
The Defence Secretary, who consistently praises the troops, will recognise the necessity of government providing the troops with the support, equipment and health care.
Mr Browne is unlikely to go as far as Sir Richard Dannett, who asked how many councils would even consider a homecoming parade, but he will agree that the young soldier deserves respect for his courage and should know that the people in his local community know and understand what he has been doing. Sir Richard compared the treatment of returning British troops and those in the US, where even communities that are strongly anti-war make the distinction between the war and the warriors.
