[Fozzy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24801942" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royal Navy aircraft carrier costs 'to double'

The cost of two new aircraft carriers being built for the Royal Navy is expected to be almost twice the original estimate, the government is expected to confirm this week.

In the latest budget, the Ministry of Defence is set to estimate the cost of the two ships at £6.2bn.

The department says it is renegotiating the contract to avoid further significant rises.

Six years ago, when the contract was approved, costs were put at £3.65bn

But God forbid we should spend any more on hospitals, legal aid or education.

[Daley Mayle]

Didn't someone change their mind and added the bit of string that when the aircraft lands it stops it falling off the front?

Do we have any aircraft yet to land on the boats?

Did you know that the Harrier VTOL squadron was sold to the Yanks for their spare parts?

So many questions, mostly unanswered.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Hammond's policy of getting Capita to run MoD procurement isn't going down very well with some on the DT.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I gather the "£38bn black hole" beloved by Liam Fox has been exhumed by Hammond.

not edited for hilarious mixed metaphor.

[Big Arnold]

'I know we all look the same': Excruciating moment Tory minister Philip Hammond TWICE confused Labour's Liz Kendall with Rachel Reeves on Question Time

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z2tzGXbIN6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mattomac]

Another shit for brains

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Another shit for brains

Reckoned to be one of their brightest by the Tories...

[The Weeping Angel]

Another shit for brains

Reckoned to be one of their brightest by the Tories...

That's not saying much

[Malcolm Armsteen]

My point precisely.

[new puritan]

The armed forces could be exempted from human rights laws because they are hampering British military operations in the field, Philip Hammond has said.

Mr Hammond said the government is prepared to introduce new legislation to protect the army from the "encroachment" of civil litigation on the battlefield.

His comments came amid concerns about the growing number of civil cases being brought against the Ministry of Defence.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -laws.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What could go wrong? Let's just exempt Our Brave Boys from all laws whatsoever.

[new puritan]

Senior army officers "slammed the door" to block a military police investigation into the treatment of prisoners captured after a fierce battle in Iraq, and then tried to deny having done so, a public inquiry into the incident has heard.

Lucy Bowen, a military police special investigations officer, described how commanders of 1 Battalion Princess of Wales Royal Regiment (1PWRR) stopped her from questioning soldiers after the Battle of Danny Boy – Danny Boy was a British checkpoint near Majar al-Kabir, north of Basra – on 14 May 2004, in which at least 20 insurgents were killed and others were wounded and captured.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/m ... -danny-boy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good job Hammond wants to exempt Are Troops from human rights law then. Fuck it, kill all the foreigners you like.

[Big Arnold]

'Whoever said Scots can keep the pound will be served up as a kebab for Osborne': Search is on for rogue minister over gaffe

The mole hunt is focusing on junior Tory ministers from England, although Defence Secretary Philip Hammond did himself no favours yesterday when asked if he had spoken to the Guardian newspaper which broke the story. 'I don't think so,' he meekly replied.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z2xXZ67x35" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[The Weeping Angel]

Arnold have you looked at Malcolm's post on the Scottish indy thread here it is again

1. It's the Guardian.
2. It's during the Scottish Lib Dem conference. Lib Dem conferences all take place in Narnia.
3. The alleged minister is anonymous. Not a 'treasury minister'.
4. The claims are unsubstantiated.
5. It's the Guardian.

[Big Arnold]

I did see that. What puzzles me is his vague reply.

[Agnes]

Maybe he's just got a really bad memory.