Military should 'do what they're told' and not express views on strike cover, Rees-Mogg says

The job of the military is to "do what they're told by the civilian authorities", MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has said in response to the head of the Armed Forces saying personnel should not be used as the "ultimate backstop" to cover striking public sector workers this Christmas.

The former business secretary and Tory back-bencher was responding to Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin's comments when asked how long the military can be relied upon to provide cover.

"Military Aid for the Civilian Authority (Maca) is a completely routine aspect of how this country is governed and they're called upon when necessary," Mr Rees-Mogg said.

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"I'm a bit worried about senior military figures sounding off on their opinions.

"I think the job of the military is there to do what they're told by the civilian authorities, it's not for the military to be expressing their views.

"I don't think this is constitutionally how it should be.

"The military are not there to be making political statements about what they will or won't do, that should be carried out in private.

"I'm surprised they're making these comments."

Mr Rees-Mogg's comments come after Admiral Sir Tony told the Sunday Telegraph it would be "slightly perilous" to expect the British military to regularly stand in for striking public sector workers. 

He added that military personnel are "not a spare capacity".

"We're busy and we're doing lots of things on behalf of the nation," Admiral Sir Tony added.

"We've got to focus on our primary role."

It comes after confirmation that 1,200 military personnel will be used to cover striking ambulance and Border Force staff in the coming weeks.

Admiral Sir Tony has said that the deployment is "miles off" impacting operational effectiveness, but it "has an impact on individuals and we have to acknowledge that".

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said strikes over Christmas are 'ruining lives' of Armed Forces personnel.

And the former commanding officer of 1st Battalion Scots Guards, Colonel (retired) Lincoln Jopp, said military personnel called in to cover striking workers should get a daily bonus for their efforts.