We have refrained from making any comments on the Iranian hostage situation; especially the comments made by our servicemen which some of the press have taken it upon themselves to ridicule our lads and lasses for being too co-operative.

Having heard the statements made by some of the lower ranking marines, it was very clear that the Iranians subjected them to physcological torture, especially Faye Tunney who was told her shipmates had been returned to the UK because they admitted to being in Iranian waters.

Being blindfolded and then having weapons cocking behind you with one of your team throwing up, believing they were to be executed, puts a lot of strain on servicemen. With no guidance from the British Embassy or previous training in captivity methods used in modern warfare they were placed in a seriously disadvantaged position.

The Popular Alliance are very unhappy with the way some of the press are behaving towards these very brave individuals We don’t see the likes of some of the more callous press "hacks" sticking their necks out and visiting road side patrols in either Baghdad or Basra, just in case a they stumble across one of the mad Muslim mullahs dreaming of meeting his 72 black eyed virgins.

However, during the press conference, not one of the media representatives picked up on one vital point mentioned by one of the officers.

The helicopter returned to HMS Cornwall leaving them virtually defenceless and they missed the golden opportunity to ask the killer question of “WHY”

Blair and his inept team are the only ones to blame for this whole humiliating fiasco, as we have commented before.

Our defence capability has been jeapordised with defence contracts being cancelled, no aircraft carriers, with no sign of them ever being built, wrong equipment, poor and ageing aircraft, useless defence procurement agency, Qinetiq being sold into greedy cost cutting private hands, an all service cost cutting on a massive scale and halve the Royal Navy in mothballs, is it any wonder we are a “lions led by donkeys” military power.

This has to be one of the most humiliating military blunders Britain has ever faced, and the buck stops with Blair and his government.

The Popular Alliance say we need to stop the rot and start treating our servicemen and women with the respect they deserve and that means giving them the tools of the trade. Missions should be able to be carried out without fear of interference from crackpot third raters. The Iranians should have had warning shots fired across their bows by the back up helicopter(s) to warn them they were straying into Iraqi waters and should they continue, they risked being blown out of the water.

Finally, we welcome our marines and sailors back home, we wish them and their families well and pray the press let them alone to rest and recuperate with their loved ones

Well done to all of you, you showed true professionalism and we welcome you home!