Always happens with a labour government ~ I've told enough people but will they listen?
When Harold Wilson was PM I found myself on guard duty at an RAF Base in Aden armed with a pick axe handle. The armourer said "No point in issuing you rifles lads, we've got no fvckin' ammo for them" Like good little airmen we pointed out to the Duty Officer that the Arabs did have rifles and ammuntion and hand grenades and all sorts of kit. "I know" he replied "If they attack tonight, see what you can grab"
A week later ammo became available again. Back on guard duty I was given a WWII Lee Enfield 303 rifle and 3 (THREE!) rounds of ammunition, one in the rifle and one for each breast pocket. We had to show all three rounds were in place at each hourly inspection.
The following week we did a patrol. Each of the six of us was issued with 5 rounds. This I would remind those old enough to remember was when the Arabs were trying to get us out of Aden by fair means or foul. This was about a year or so before a certain Lt Col Colin Mitchell became famous for his exploits out there.