Cheapskate army killed my girl

A MILITARY expert has voiced his support for the SAS commander who has resigned over the lack of armoured vehicles in Afghanistan.

Dr Richard North accused the Government of “murdering” more than 50 soldiers, who have now been killed in lightly-protected Land Rovers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Yesterday he praised major Sebastian Morley, the commander of D Squadron, 23 SAS, who accused the MoD of “chronic under-investment” in equipment.

Four members of Major Morley’s unit were killed when their Land Rover hit a land-mine in Helmand in June.

Corporal Sarah Bryant died alongside Corporal Sean Reeve, Lance Corporal Richard Larkin and Paul Stout.

Dr North said: “It’s outrageous that a good man should have to resign to make his views known. I have spoken to many officers who are appalled that they have to send their men out to die in Land Rovers.”

Dr North, who served in the RAF, is a House of Commons researcher working for Conservative MPs.

He said: “The MoD has always claimed that the soldiers out in Afghanistan prefer to use the Land Rovers because they’re lighter and faster. Major Morley’s resignation shows this isn’t true.

“These men and women would still be alive today if they had been travelling in heavily-armoured vehicles, rather than flimsy Land Rovers.”

An MoD spokeswoman said Land Rovers are less “intimidating” to local people and better for winning “hearts and minds”.

The vehicles are also used because they are quicker and offer soldiers better visibility than heavily-armoured vehicles, she said.