Nick Clegg steals a march on the military

I was delighted to note that Nick Clegg has come up with a brilliant idea, that of a Military Covenant Commission, chaired by Ming. It is an example of his ability to recognise that it is not just important to highlight what is going wrong with current government policy but also to offer practical, well considered, responses. His initiative has already been picked up, I quote from an email I received from the Royal British Legion this morning - "We were delighted by Nick Clegg's statement on the Military Covenant Commission over the weekend." Having successfully had this issue highlighted as an urgent issue at conference, some of you may have heard my speech . If not, don't worry I won't repeat it here (!) suffice to point to what the military covenant says:

"Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices - including the ultimate sacrifice - in the service of the Nation. In putting the needs of the Nation and the Army before their own, they forego some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the Armed Forces. In return, British soldiers must always be able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals, and that they (and their families) will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service. In the same way the unique nature of military land operations means that the Army differs from all other institutions, and must be sustained and provided for accordingly by the Nation. This mutual obligation forms the Military Covenant between the Nation, the Army and each individual soldier; an unbreakable common bond of identity, loyalty and responsibility which has sustained the Army throughout its history. It has perhaps its greatest manifestation in the annual commemoration of Armistice Day, when the Nation keeps covenant with those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in action."