This morning’s broadcast and newspaper headlines include news of changes to the FCO’s travel advice for Tunisia, and further analysis of the Chancellor’s budget proposals.
Tunisia
The Independent, The Times, Daily Telegraph, and Daily Mail report on the change in travel advice to Tunisia, saying that the assessment of a further terrorist attack as “highly likely” puts the country in the same category as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. The papers report that tour operators are to despatch extra flights to bring British holidaymakers home early, while the Daily Mail incorrectly speculates that the RAF is poised to contribute aircraft to the evacuation if requested by the Foreign Office.
Iraq Air Strikes
The Daily Mail and The Sun report on figures released by the MOD that an estimated 242 ISIL militants have been killed in RAF air strikes over Iraq between October 2014 and May 2015. The articles report that RAF Reapers and Tornados in the region have conducted 300 strikes during more than 1000 missions since last October.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
Islamic State is an evil and barbaric organisation. It is murdering innocent civilians on a huge scale in the Middle East and it poses an extremely serious terrorism threat to our country. That’s why the action our armed forces are taking to combat it is so important.
This follows a BBC Radio 5 Live feature yesterday in which Reaper operators were interviewed about their role in combating the terrorist group in Iraq – listen again here.
For footage of an RAF Reaper successfully striking an ISIL armoured vehicle hidden in a palm grove head to our regular air strike update page.
Defence Spending
Following the Chancellor’s budget announcement that the UK would meet its NATO defence spending target of 2 per cent of GDP for the remainder of the decade, The Daily Telegraph reports that Conservative MPs have raised concerns that intelligence spending may be included in order to meet the target. The Sun reports on NATO’s position that intelligence should only be included in defence spending figures if it directly contributes to military decision making. However, the Daily Telegraph article reports that military chiefs have applauded the Chancellor’s commitment, and that the US State Department has praised the UK’s continued commitment to meeting the NATO target.
An MOD spokesperson, said:
Of course we look at how we categorise defence spending to ensure it remains fully in accordance with NATO guidelines. From time to time, that means we do make updates but this isn’t a change in approach.
Battle of Britain Anniversary
A number of papers report that today, on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will watch a fly past from Buckingham Palace of four Spitfires, two Hurricanes, and four RAF Typhoons. The Mirror, The Sun and the The Express feature statistics from the battle, and profiles of surviving Battle of Britain veterans and civilians who witnessed the RAF’s defence against the Blitz. In the Daily Telegraph veteran Hurricane pilot Wg Cdr Tom Neil tells of his experiences fighting in the Battle of Britain, and the bravery of the RAF pilots he fought alongside. The Daily Telegraph and The Express also report on a poll by the RAF Benevolent Fund which suggests four out of ten young adults don’t know what the Battle of Britain was.
BBC Breakfast also reported from RAF Coningsby on the aircraft that will join in today’s fly past, interviewing serving RAF officers on the legacy of the Battle of Britain pilots and the importance of maintaining the remaining aircraft from the War.
Click here for more on today’s events to mark the Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary.
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