Jenrick’s comments ‘risk damaging the reputation of the British Army’ (Image: Getty)
Times are changing and for that must come as something of a relief.
In years gone by, to make disgusting, unsubstantiated allegations against British soldiers in an attempt to make some political point would have ended not only your leadership campaign but your political career entirely.
The same has happened in the US. In a pre-Trump world, it was unthinkable to think that a politician could survive like , but somehow managed it.
But it shocks me that Jenrick’s spurious claims that British special forces are choosing to kill rather than capture because of the has not garnered more public outrage.
A man so lacking in substance, unable to make his point without bringing into disrepute those who sacrifice so much, is unfit to lead a conga, let alone the .
“I’m extremely concerned… It risks making life much more dangerous for our soldiers.”Tory leadership candidate criticises ‘s comments that the armed forces are ‘killing rather than detaining terrorists’ because of the ECHR.
— The News Agents (@TheNewsAgents)
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It is worth underlining just how damaging these accusations are.
There is an ongoing independent inquiry into allegations of war crimes by special forces soldiers in .
The inquiry is investigating claims made in a Panorama programme that innocent Afghan civilians were executed by three out of four SAS squadrons between 2010 and 2013.
These are serious allegations that deserve a full and thorough examination without the lazy, self-serving input of a politician who knows nothing of the sense of service which underpins the men and women willing to risk their lives on operations.
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace recently gave evidence to an inquiry investigating war crimes (Image: Getty)
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“I think he’s disgusting, absolutely disgusting.” says Robert Jenrick’s special forces claims are “absolute nonsense” because he has been part of teams that have arrested killers in the field. | | |
— Jeremy Vine & Storm Huntley on 5 (@JeremyVineOn5)
If I sound angry, it is because I am. Every day, men and women in a variety of services take extreme personal risks at significant personal costs to keep people like Jenrick safe, often for poor pay and little thanks.
That he is still a favourite in the race illustrates how far the Conservative Party has fallen in the last five years.
It is not as if Jenrick is some charismatic genius whose abilities outweigh such disgraceful rhetoric.
This is a man who delivered a decent pre-planned joke about James O’Brien with the joviality of a family pet’s funeral then had the nerve to call wooden – it was so far removed from Churchill or Thatcher as to not be funny.
Jenrick’s comments undermine the effectiveness of the armed forces (Image: Getty)
Perhaps he was of the belief that the accusations were based on fact? If so, is he the kind of person able to hold and Labour to account? I don’t think so.
His leadership rival Tom Tugendhat said on Newsnight that , killed shortly afterwards. A politician levelling accusations against a dead serviceman, is that really the best the Conservative Party can muster?
When people show you their true colours, believe them.
A man willing to desecrate the memory of dead soldiers and ruin the reputation of elite units for his own political gain is not a man dedicated to the national interest.
Self-serving politicians are a part of the reason the country is in the state it is in. They are the problem; they are not the solution.
Conor Wilson is a journalist and a veteran, who served in the British Army between 2016 and 2023.