Soapbox

THE buzz is that Nick Clegg did well in the first television debate on ITV1 last Thursday night.

However, on defence, the leader of the Liberal Democrats made a glib claim that there are two admirals for every ship in the Royal Navy, hinting strongly at there being an opportunity for savings.

He is way off track with his figures. Slurring the navy like this is both unwise and unfair, as the Royal Navy is unable to respond during election purdah.

The facts are very different to those claimed.

There are some 36 flag and general officers in the naval service all told, of whom 30 are admirals and six are Royal Marines major-generals.

Of this number, 20 admirals and two generals are in dedicated naval or marine posts, and only two hold the four-star rank of a full admiral.

Ten admirals and generals are in tri-service defence posts, most of which are open to Army generals and air marshals by competition, and another four are in Nato posts.

Of the eight vice-admirals on the active list, half are in Nato or tri-service appointments, such as Surgeon Vice-Admiral Philip Raffaelli, who succeeded an Army officer as Surgeon-General in December.

As well as the Fleet Air Arm, there are some 80 ships and submarines, some of which are in refit or reserve.

So, nothing like the 150 or so admirals that Nick Clegg claims. I hope he was steering a safer course with his other figures and claims.

These statistics matter. Indeed, the real question to be asked is not about the number of admirals, but why the Royal Navy is now some 77 per cent of its size in 1997.

The world's seas are no smaller, some 92 per cent of our trade still goes by sea and the UK still has the same 14 overseas territories, yet there are many fewer sailors and ships, each of which can only be in one place at one time.

That 10 admirals and four Royal Marines generals are in tri-service or Nato appointments says a lot about the high calibre of these officers.

Indeed, it is patently clear that the Royal Marines, in particular, punch way above their weight.

Nick Clegg should take more care and more interest in the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines.