Andrew Robathan angered Second World War veterans by saying Britain did not ‘throw around’ honours like the Libyan tyrant and Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
The Tory defence minister said the UK only awarded medals for ‘risk and rigour’ – prompting accusations he was ‘belittling’ the sacrifice made by thousands.
Mr Robathan made the ‘sickening’ remarks as those who risked their lives on what Winston Churchill described as ‘the worst journey in the world’, took their fight for a medal to Westminster.
More than 3,000 UK sailors, who faced treacherous seas where temperatures plunged as low as -60c, died to keep the Soviet Union supplied and fighting on the Eastern Front.'Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2070779/Anger-Arctic-convoy-veterans-minister-belittles-sacrifice-saying-Britain-does-throw-honours-like-Gaddafi.html#ixzz1fpDxDnRu
