As if the problems of Army recruiting from Commonwealth countries aren't bad enough, the Tory's spokesman on homeland security, Patrick Mercer MP, has poured oil on troubled water, and set light to it.
Former army officer Colonel Mercer said to call a soldier a 'black bastard' came with the turf when joining the colours. He suggested that redheads suffered worse discrimination. This is plainly nonsense. Being a ginger-nut myself, a certain amount of abuse dogs you most of your life, and throughout the Army the cry of "Ginger you're barmy," is almost one of endearment. There is no equivalence between this and serious discrimination, such as the kind of abuse I heard recently on patrol with the British Army from a foul-mouthed white close protection driver to his Jamaican colleague.
Only this week Belize-born British |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
Patrick Mercer MP’s racist comments highlight a political culture failing troops, says robert fox |
| |
soldier Marlon Clancy set up the British Commonwealth Soldiers' Union, in response to complaints from Commonwealth soldiers that they are treated as second class cannon fodder, and suffer verbal abuse and racial discrimination.
But the story goes far beyond the question of racism. Mercer's verbal ineptitude - for which he was quickly fired - highlights the real problem of today's soldiers: who they are, how the politicians see them and what they are asked to do.
There are now over 6,000 Commonwealth citizens serving in the British forces, the largest numbers from Fiji, Ghana, South Africa and the Caribbean. Without them and the Gurkhas, the Army would be just about on its uppers and not be able to mount missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and the Falklands simultaneously.
The MoD website says that  |
