21st July 2009

Sir,

It has taken a massively increased death toll to wake people up to the equipment failings that have exposed our troops to unnecessary risk throughout the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns. Remember that the war in Iraq was sold to us on false threats and that troops were sent to Afghanistan for a policing operation in which it was hoped no shots would be fired.

Sheffield's Labour MPs have used ministerial positions to justify voting with the government, but none are ministers now and backbenchers have new power as the Labour administration crumbles. Our MPs have freedom to act on on this issue and any other issue. Now is the time to ask the Government why our soldiers are in the firing line with equipment that was not designed to fight the Taliban, why we spend billions on defence projects that deliver outdated equipment years behind schedule and why despite the calls from millions of people to bring our friends and family members in the armed forces home - they continue to die in wars lacking in popular support, clear leadership or moral justification.

Yours sincerely,

Gareth Roberts

Heeley Constituency Prospective Parliamentary Candidate