Harrier pilot has Cameron in his sights over cuts

Few prime ministers like being confronted in public about the human cost of their decisions. Particularly not by an Afghanistan veteran with a war hero for a father.

David Cameron was taken to task yesterday by Lt-Cdr Kris Ward, a 37-year-old Harrier pilot, about plans to scrap the jets and the HMS Ark Royal. "I have flown 140-odd missions in Afghanistan, and I am now potentially facing unemployment ... How am I supposed to feel about that, please, sir?" he asked the Prime Minister who was visiting the Permanent Joint Headquarters in north-west London.

Mr Cameron thanked the serviceman for "everything" but insisted he had to "make decisions for the future".

Lt-Cdr Ward's father, Nigel – who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during the Falklands conflict – said his son was "absolutely right" to question the cuts.