UK floods: David Cameron pledges unlimited public funds

Prime minister seeks to assert his authority over natural disaster with promise of wider army role and more money

A resolute David Cameron vowed to marshal the forces of the state to tackle the flooding crisis, pledging a wider role for the army and unlimited public funds to protect families.

After two days of Whitehall infighting and mixed messages, the prime minister returned from visiting stricken communities in the south-west to hold a Downing Street press conference at which he sought to assert his authority over the natural disaster.

In words that may yet come back to haunt him, Cameron said: “My message to the country today is this. Money is no object in this relief effort, whatever money is needed for it will be spent. We will take whatever steps are necessary”. He insisted “we are a wealthy country and we have taken good care of our public finances”.

With many communities complaining about the lack of help from official agencies, Cameron claimed that the emergency Gold Command system was working well, but he added: “It is clear the military could play a bigger role.”

He explained that 1,600 personnel will have been deployed, and thousands more were available.

Downing Street over the past 48 hours has been concerned that soldiers have so far been underused and confined to working on flood defences, rather than helping out exhausted volunteers struggling to save local communities.

Hard-hit communities along the Thames and on the Somerset levels were warned last night to expect further heavy rain and strong windson Wednesday.

There were 121 flood warnings in place, 16 of which were severe, including warnings for Chertsey and Wraysbury, which have already been heavily affected. So far about 1,000 properties have been reported as flooded over the past week.

Paul Leinster, chief executive of the Environment Agency, said there was potential for more significant flooding. “Stormy weather will continue to threaten communities this week, with further flooding expected along the Thames in Berkshire and Surrey,” he said. “River levels are high across south-west, central and southern England.”

Aware that his qualities as a national leader were under scrutiny, Cameron refused to sugar the pill about the likelihood of the crisis ending soon, telling the country to prepare for the “depressingly long haul” that lay ahead. He said: “There is absolutely no sign of this threat abating, and with further rain and strong winds forecast throughout the week things may get worse before they get better.”

He said that recovery in the south-west of England would take time, saying the broken rail line at Dawlish – where he had visited in the morning – would take at least six weeks to rebuild.

Regarding the flooded Somerset levels, he said new pumps were in action; they were removing 3m tonnes of water a day. He said this also would take time, depending on the rain levels.

The prime minister said he was cancelling a trip next week to Israel so as to take personal charge of the relief operation.

Ed Miliband also confirmed he would cancel a visit to …read more