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BALLOT: Luff: I’m relishing new role in MoD

8:00am Wednesday 26th May 2010 in


A WORCESTERSHIRE MP has been given a top job in the Ministry of Defence.

Peter Luff, Conservative MP for Mid-Worcestershire and the city’s former MP, is the new minister with responsibility for defence equipment.

He will be in charge a £15 billion annual departmental budget covering everything from the planned delivery of the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers to the supply of millions of rounds of ammunition for the Armed Forces.

Mr Luff said he “relished the opportunity” after taking office on Monday this week, but that the department faced “tough choices” against a backdrop of cuts and savings in public spending.

The new role means he will report directly to the Secretary of State for Defence Dr Liam Fox, and head the Defence Equipment and Support branch based mainly in Bristol.

Mr Luff admitted his new role put him in the “eye of the storm” as far as public expenditure goes with the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, Britain’s continuing battle against terror threats and the looming strategic defence review expected to be announced.

Mr Luff, former chairman of the parliamentary business committee in the last Parliament, was called by the Prime Minister David Cameron on Saturday with the job offer.

“He said it probably wasn’t the job I was expecting, because I was expecting something in the business department.

“You don’t get choices in politics, you are given options which you either accept or reject and it was an extremely pleasant surprise.

“This is better because I can build on my knowledge of business and challenge myself.”

He assured constituents he would not neglect them, despite his new role, saying: “first and foremost is the mandate from my constituency”.

Asked if he was nervous taking the reins of a key defence ministerial position, he replied: “Apprehensive is the word, but I’m really pleased.

“This gives me the chance to do important things over the next term, which is what all politicians go into politics to do.”

Comments(7)

Olley Owl says...
11:48am Wed 26 May 10

Surely, the Lib_dems, will certainly have a battle on their hands (Pardon the Pun) now in bringing our troops home from this pointless war. It will certainly not be the Conservatives that bring them home. For the last few years, both parties have been against this war. Surely they are going to withdraw our soldier, and bring them back home? Or are they going to do a U turn, on their rantings.

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MrStJohns says...
11:57am Wed 26 May 10

Didn’t Tony Blair send them over in the first place, good luck to peter luff and I hope he does a comprehensive and well informed job. Unlike the last government that changed figures and statistics to suit there own agenda.

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Malvern says...
12:41pm Wed 26 May 10

We can't leave until the Afghan army has the capability to defend against the Taliban. Unfortunately I think that won't happen, we will have to leave at some point and civil war will decide who rules the country, the same will happen in Iraq too possibly.

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helen donovan says...
1:36pm Wed 26 May 10

Many Congratulations and the very best of luck to Peter Luff in his new role as Defence Minister.
He has always spoken up for and worked tirelessly for his constituents and on a personal note has helped me immensely to raise the unfair and unjust school funding issues we face in this county.

I cannot tell you how fabulous it was to read in the first Worcester News article after his re-election, that Peter again stated that getting our children a better deal in terms of school funding is one of his top priorities.

Thank you Peter. Good Luck in your new role. I am sure you will do a sterling job.

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Olley Owl says...
3:04pm Wed 26 May 10

MrStJohns wrote:
Didn’t Tony Blair send them over in the first place, good luck to peter luff and I hope he does a comprehensive and well informed job. Unlike the last government that changed figures and statistics to suit there own agenda.
Yes, Tony Blair and that Yank, got us into this silly ridiculous war. I did not agree, with him, and I do not agree with it now. I believe our troops should be with their families at home.

The last government, its always the same sound from persons, yes I support Labour, and I did not agree with the war then. so I say bring our troops home, just because governments changed, and they disagreed with Blair, they now can carry out their stand against this war by bringing our troops home. Or are they changing their minds now.?

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MrStJohns says...
3:13pm Wed 26 May 10

What interests me olly the owl is why someone from newbold, which is some distance from here, bothers to comment in this paper. Do you live in Worcester or are you one of those labour plants that trawl the countries papers making pro labour comments. As Malvern correctly says, its not really a matter of saying right then lads, off home now. Unfortunately the world is not that black and white however im sure the government will stick by its commitments on Afghanistan, but they only been in power a few weeks. Its going to take longer than that to sort out the last 13 years of labour.

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network says...
8:14pm Wed 26 May 10

What the hell dose he know about the forces?You need some one who has a military back ground.He could have got a job in the quarter masters stores, giving new toilet seat to the married quarters.

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GOING PLACES: Conservative Peter Luff, MP for Mid-Worcestershire, is the new minister with responsibility for defence equipment. 27444603 GOING PLACES: Conservative Peter Luff, MP for Mid-Worcestershire, is the new minister with responsibility for defence equipment. 27444603

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