Defence secretary John Hutton has refused to hold a public inquiry into the safety of Snatch Land Rovers used by British troops serving in Afghanistan.

Thirty-seven British service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan as a result of injuries sustained while operating in them.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had been criticised for failing to provide adequate protection for UK troops as a result, leading to calls for the inquiry.

Mr Hutton told MPs in a written ministerial statement that because military commanders have unanimously told him Snatch "remains essential to the success of our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan" an inquiry would be "inappropriate and unnecessary".

He argued the lightly armoured nature of Snatch vehicles made them ideal for engagement with the local population, a key goal of the UK's counterinsurgency tactics in the country.

Heavier vehicles would be impractical because they can only be used on well-kept roads, Mr Hutton argued, before pointing out that those who died might not have survived in larger vehicles.

His statement has prompted outrage from opposition parties who have blamed the government for delaying their decision to withdraw old versions of the vehicle from service.

Shadow defence Secretary Liam Fox said the move was "testament to Labour's failure to invest in sufficient armoured vehicles during the years our forces have been operating in Iraq and Afghanistan".

And Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson Nick Harvey added: "On this occasion, the lions in Afghanistan have been failed by the donkeys in Whitehall."


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