Ministers were branded 'heartless' last night for pension cuts that will cost retired servicemen and war widows hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox was blasted over the coalition Government's controversial decision to link all public-sector pensions and benefits to the Consumer Price Index instead of the higher Retail Price Index.
Changes introduced in the last Budget mean, for instance, that a 27-year-old corporal who lost both his legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan would miss out on more than £500,000 over his lifetime. And the 34-year-old wife of a staff sergeant killed in Afghanistan would lose almost £750,000 as a result of the changes.
So there you are. Some poor deluded twat who was led to believe that joining the army and serving your country's interests, was 'being the best'. Now here you are 5 years later, having lost both legs in an IED in Afghanistan, a war fought like all 'wars' not as you were led to believe to stop the Muslim hordes at the door but rather to serve the interests of big business in building a gas pipeline.
So, after all the pats on the back from your mates and their congratulations about your heroism, you begin to realise the reality of the situation. Your legs are blown off, probably along with your bollocks. Your chances of getting a bird or even sustaining your current relationship are slim in the extreme. Are you going to get a job? You doubt it, because all you were before was a brickie and what use is a brickie with no legs? Are the calls from the army getting less frequent? Of course, but they're very busy people. But at least your country, who you nearly gave your life for, values you. Oh, maybe not? Would you do it all again? Aye, that'll be fucking right!
