Bob Ainsworth
Bob Ainsworth
Robert William "Bob" Ainsworthis a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliamentfor Coventry North East from 1992 to 2015, and was the Secretary of State for Defence from 2009 to 2010. Following the general election in 2010 he was the Shadow Defence Secretary, but was replaced by Jim Murphy following the election of new Labour leader Ed Miliband...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth19 June 1952
behave collective elected labour parliament struck
When I was first elected to parliament 18 years ago, one of the many things that struck me and that I still feel now is how the Labour Party, the party of collective action, can, at MP level and above, behave in such an individualistic way.
building capable genuinely inspiring leader media open policies present project true
We need a leader able to project his or her personality and present our policies in today's media environment. All this is true - but we also need a leader capable of building a team, inspiring loyalty from colleagues, and one genuinely open to ideas.
again allow attacks cannot haven july plan provide september terrorists
We cannot allow Afghanistan to become again a haven for terrorists who inspire, plan and provide support for attacks like those of 11 September 2001, of 7 July 2005 in London, and more.
afghan allowed future girls helping hope people
We are not in Afghanistan because girls were not allowed to go to school, but helping them do so will give the Afghan people hope for a better future.
fighting insurgency national political prevent protect reduced returning terrorists war
The war in Afghanistan is too important to be reduced to a political football. We are fighting there to protect our national security. We are confronting the Taliban-led insurgency to prevent terrorists returning to that country.
afghan forces government insurgents lasting people reasoning resist security success terrorists
The reasoning for our civil-military plan is that lasting success will be when the Afghan government, security forces and people can resist the insurgents and terrorists themselves.
armed forces good hope ordinary politics
I'll tell you what I do have: I have a good feel for ordinary people, for politics, and those are my strengths. I understand, I hope instinctively, where many of our Armed Forces come from.
defence extremely honoured job
I am extremely honoured to be the Defence Secretary, and I would not do the job if I did not think that I could make a useful contribution in the role.
chief defence defend defending interests means staff tackling threats
As the Chief of the Defence Staff says, you don't defend on the goal line. Defending the interests of the U.K. means tackling threats early and at source, and that means intervening overseas.
government
You have to make the compromise: resign, stay out of the government, and you can say what you like... but no one has to do anything about it.
country politics
We have tended in politics in this country to concentrate on the domestic, on the here and now - the 'what's in it for me'.
inflict
The last thing we want to do is to go into an area and inflict unnecessary civilian casualties. One is too many.