MP faces questions about defence budget (From News Shopper)

MP faces questions about defence budget

2:07pm Saturday 19th January 2008 in Bromley By Robert Fisk

A 'THINKING soldier' from Orpington quizzed the shadow defence minister during the MP's recent visit to Afghanistan.

Rifleman Alex Sales asked Dr Liam Fox about his plans for spending the defence budget.

The meeting took place in Helmand Province where Rfn Sales has been based since the start of October.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Dr Fox was more than happy to answer Alex's questions on his plans for spending the defence budget and was quick to point out that defence spending had reduced significantly under Labour.

"Rfn Sales is a good example of the thinking soldier' that The Rifles Regiment is looking to recruit."

The former Kemnal Technology College's main role is as a rifleman but he has also been trained as a medic.

He is working as part of the immediate response team (IRT) based at Camp Bastion in central Helmand.

Along with other members of his section, he goes out by helicopter to provide protection and assistance to medical teams as they respond to incidents in the region.

The 23-year-old Territorial Army soldier in 2 Platoon of Salonika Company, 7th Battalion, The Rifles, will do other tasks including vehicle patrols of the area surrounding the camp and guard duty within the next few weeks.

When asked how he feels about his deployment to Afghanistan, he said: "I've made some good friends and in the main, I'm enjoying it."

But he says he is missing his family and his girlfriend Melek back home.

Rfn Sales's civilian job' is as a security officer for Barclays Bank in Canary Wharf.