NEWS RELEASE

Monday 16 March 2009

UKNDA WELCOMES PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR BRITAIN’S ARMED FORCES

The United Kingdom National Defence Association [UKNDA] has welcomed the overwhelming public support for Britain’s Armed Forces, shown by the enthusiastic crowds at homecoming parades and by the latest ComRes opinion poll in which 91% of those polled said they felt British servicemen and servicewomen should be proud of the job they do.

UKNDA spokesman Andy Smith said: “There has been a welcome sea-change in public attitudes towards the Armed Forces over the past year. This latest ComRes poll result confirms that the British people have enormous pride in our Armed Forces despite having some misgivings about the military operations in which they are currently engaged. Nine out of ten people recognise that our servicemen and servicewomen are doing a wonderful job.”

He added, however, that according to UKNDA’s research there is also growing public recognition of the problems caused by the continued under-funding and over-stretch of the Armed Forces. “Most people are well aware nowadays of the serious challenges facing our overstretched Armed Forces due to lack of equipment, training and resources. Politicians must wake up to the widening gap between public support for the Forces and governmental neglect. It is scandalous that politicians expect our servicemen and servicewomen to take the risks that they do without being given the equipment that they need.”

For further information or interview opportunities please contact:

Cdr. John Muxworthy, CEO, UKNDA, tel 01264 860693 / 07721 624980, email ceo@uknda.org

Andy Smith, PRO, UKNDA, tel: 07737 271676, email pro@uknda.org

Editor’s Notes:

1. The United Kingdom National Defence Association [UKNDA] was formed in 2007 to campaign for sufficient, appropriate and fully-funded Armed Forces. UKNDA's President is Winston S. Churchill, grandson of Britain’s WW2 Prime Minister. Patrons include three former Chiefs of the Defence Staff – Lords Guthrie, Craig and Boyce – as well as former Labour Foreign Secretary Lord Owen and former Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell. Please see www.uknda.org

2. ComRes surveyed 1,013 adults by telephone between March 6 and March 8. Data was weighed to be representative demographically of all GB adults. The poll was commissioned by BBC Radio Five Live. Full details from www.comres.co.uk

3. In an earlier ComRes poll (September 2008), commissioned by the UKNDA, 78% of adults polled said they believed that Britain’s Armed Forces were “dangerously over-stretched”, 70% said the Government was failing to give the Armed Forces adequate resources, and only 32% said they felt the Government treated servicemen and servicewomen with the respect they deserve.