A very dramatic moment by Defence questions standards just now during a Commons debate on Afghanistan.
Michael Ancram (Tory) referred to the alleged claim by the former Defence Secretary, John Reid, that “not a shot would be fired” there.
Dr Reid, who leapt to his feet, intervened to say that he had in fact said he would be “happy” if that were the case. He asked the frontbench to confirm that, which it did, and for the Tories to stop “misrepresenting” the position. He accused Ancram of “inadvertently misleading the House”, in classic “attack dog” mode, but he also sounded as desperate as anyone for the dire situation in Afghanistan to improve.
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