Generally good

The appointment of Sir General David Richards as head of the British army, effective from August 2009, is the government’s first inspired military appointment for a long time. A former Nato commander in Afghanistan and the “Saviour of Sierra Leone”, General Richards will bring to the job a keen understanding of the military’s new tasks and, from his last assignment as Commander-in-Chief Land Forces, insight into the real state of the British army.

Richards is probably the closest thing the British army has to David Petraeus – a soldier with an appreciation of politics, an eye for a good photo opportunity, but also someone who can develop a strategic vision. He has developed useful links not only with senior Labour ministers, but also with their Conservative counterparts: “Dave” and “General Dave” are said to have met on several occasions.