§ 4.5 pm
§ Mr. Archie Hamilton (Epsom and Ewell)With permission, Madam Speaker, I would like to make a short statement about my leaving the Government.
I asked the Prime Minister in January to be allowed to leave his Government at the next time he made changes, and I intended to publish a letter to my right hon. Friend which I was hoping would be in the public domain this week. However, as a result of the unexpected timing of the reshuffle, I now run the risk that some may think I did not go voluntarily but was sacked.
I consider myself to be extremely fortunate since I joined the Whips Office in 1982 to have served in the Administrations of both my right hon. Friend the noble Lady Thatcher and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
I have perhaps had the unique experience, when Parliamentary Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher, of being present when a reshuffle was planned and when my promotion to the job of Minister for the Armed Forces was discussed by my right hon. Friend Lady Thatcher, her Chief Whip of the day, Lord Waddington, and her Principal Private Secretary. I offered to leave the room, but was encouraged to stay. After a period of further discussion, responsibility for the armed forces was mine.
When I look back to see what mark I have made in the history books, I am afraid the view is somewhat obscured by the enraged faces of mainly retired Army officers who have seen their corps amalgamated or their regimental bands wound up. Some admirals still blame me for the decision to send Wrens to sea, and I know that a number of my right hon. and hon. Friends consider that I was hell-bent on turning their safe seats into marginals by closing down military establishments in their constituencies.
On a more serious note, it has been a great privilege to have served with the armed forces of this country for the past five years. I witnessed at first hand the courage and humour of our service men about to go into combat during the Gulf war. I have seen the professionalism, dedication and compassion of British soldiers delivering humanitarian aid in Bosnia; and of course I have seen them on patrol in Northern Ireland in very dangerous conditions.
We are deeply privileged in this country to have the finest armed forces in the world, and I know that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned friend the Secretary of State for Defence and his excellent team of Ministers will ensure that they remain so.
For the past few years I had at defence one of the best jobs in the Government—very little legislation, plenty of travel abroad and the special opportunity to work alongside the senior officers of our three armed services. I clearly ran the risk that the longer I stayed in the job, the more likely I was to be moved sideways to another that was less good.
I have been both privileged and lucky, as anyone is, to serve in the Government. My resignation opens up new opportunities and possibilities for me, including the chance to spend more time—[Interruption]—with my constituents. I intend to support my Government from the Back Benches during a period when I am sure we will see 447 the growth of economy that we all so fervently desire and the recognition of all that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is doing to bring it about.