Clr Jim Dodds attacks Gordon Brown’s Afghanistan visit

A TOP councillor has accused the Prime Minister of seeking “cheap publicity” in Afghanistan.

Clr Jim Dodds – who leads the Conservatives on Kirklees Council – also believes the “jury is out” on whether British troops should be there.

The Denby Dale councillor criticised Gordon Brown for making only a brief visit to Afghanistan this week.

Clr Dodds, a former major in the Royal Signals, said: “Morale among the troops is hardly going to be boosted by a two-hour visit for lunch at an Army base.

“Mr Brown should have had the courage to leave the heavily-manned base and see what those on patrol are up against. That would show real commitment rather than this cheap publicity exercise.”

Clr Dodds – who served 35 years in the Army – added: “The jury is out on whether we should or should not be in Afghanistan but we are and there is a role for us to play However, Mr Brown’s government continually fails to spell out what that objective is. That failure means that support at home is faltering.”