A variety of Defence stories are covered by the broadcast and print media, including previews of today’s service at St Paul’s Cathedral and fly past, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The service will be attended by the Prime Minister, Prince Harry and 50 Battle of Britain veterans.
SGT BLACKMAN
In continued coverage of the Sgt Blackman case, Good Morning Britain interviewed his wife, Claire, about the campaign to exonerate her husband who has been jailed for murdering a Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan. She said evidence has been provided which a new legal team believes should have been considered. She says her husband believed the man he shot was already dead and that he was breaking the Geneva Convention by desecrating a dead body.
The Telegraph suggests the marine was "hung out to dry" by politicians to appease the Afghan government, according to his wife. He was also "set up to fail" by commanders who left his unit unsupported and undermanned while fighting in a Helmand Taliban stronghold, she said, and that the court martial did not hear evidence that commanders' failures put him under unbearable pressure. The Daily Mail carries an interview with campaign supporter author Frederick Forsyth, who describes the verdict and sentence as “political correctness” and Sgt Blackman as a ‘scape goat'. He claims one member of the court martial jury implied there was an enormous amount of pressure to bring the verdict. Retired Royal Marines chief Lieutenant Colonel Ewen Southby-Tailyour also backs the campaign and said he would have done the same thing as Sgt Blackman.
A MOD spokesperson said:
The MOD followed and supported the legal process throughout. This involved a full criminal investigation and a court martial where witnesses were called by both the independent Service Prosecution Authority and defence counsel. We respect the authority and decision of the court and would, of course, co-operate fully with any future legal process. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
SYRIA STRIKES
A number of papers suggest that the Prime Minister is likely to ignore opposition from new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and push for parliamentary assent next month for British military strikes against ISIL targets in Syria. Speaking on a visit to Jordan and Lebanon, Mr Cameron indicated that the election of the anti-war Mr Corbyn was not an insuperable barrier to winning cross-party support for RAF action in Syria. The Times says Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam warned that without an end to the war, the crisis would go on.
The Secretary of State recently welcomed further action to tackle ISIL at its source by other coalition nations.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
ISIL is organised and directed from Syria. I applaud the French and Australian decisions to help tackle this barbarous terrorism at its source. Degrading and defeating ISIL is all of our responsibility. Striking ISIL in Syria will reinforce the campaign against it in Iraq; it also helps keep our streets safe here at home.
You can read more about what the UK is doing to tackle ISIL here.
EDUCATION ALLOWANCE
As expected, the Independent reports that taxpayers are spending £84m a year to send the children of service personnel to private boarding schools. Labour MP Madeleine Moon questioned whether it was cost-efficient way of supporting parents and that it favours officers.
An MOD Spokesperson said:
The annual spend on the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) has reduced every year since 2009/10 and it continues to fall.
CEA is open to all ranks and we are determined that it should go only to those who really need it.
Service personnel should not be disadvantaged by their service, whether keeping Britain safe at home or abroad, and this allowance ensures children with parents in the Armed Forces have educational continuity.
Parents can choose from a wide range of schools within the state maintained and independent sectors.
LOMAS INQUEST
The Independent covers the inquest of Private John Lomas, 22, of the Royal Logistic Corps, based in Germany, who died when the raft he was in overturned on an Austrian river.
Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Pte Lomas’ friends and family at this very difficult time. It would be inappropriate for the MOD to comment further while the inquest is ongoing.
The Spitfire is seen here in the foreground, and the Hawker Hurricane in the background.
Follow us on Twitter and don’t forget to sign up for email alerts.