HAMPSHIRE’S most senior military commander has defended the powerful new Senate in an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo.

Brigadier Miles Wade spoke as the controversial new tier of government in Hampshire met in public for the first time.

Brigadier Wade revealed he would be representing all Armed Forces personnel in Hampshire, including the Army, Navy and Air Force.

As one of 21 senators on the newly formed body, the first of its kind in Britain, the serving officer will influence how services ranging from health to crime and education are delivered across the county.

Controversially, Brigadier Wade is one of seven unelected senators invited to sit on the Senate by the self-anointed chairman, Hampshire County Council leader Cllr Ken Thornber. However, Brigadier Wade told the Echo he would abstain from any vote on any issue.

“The Senate is a good thing if it can get people to be partners and partnerships are all about getting people together to share facilities, experiences and projects. That has got to be a good thing,” he said.

“I am delighted to represent the Armed Forces on the Senate, but I am not a voting member of the Senate and I have absolutely no power on the Senate. I am not accountable and I am not democratically elected.

“What I do have is the ability to represent servicemen’s interests in the county so that we can inform people about what we do and how people can support us and our families in Hampshire.”

Brigadier Wade explained that his role was to “bridge the gap” between the Armed Forces and the Hampshire public.

He said service personnel had almost disappeared from society since war broke out in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We have wire around our garrisons, we don’t tend to like to wear our uniform in public and we are modest about what we do, so we have become largely invisible,” he said.

“I think there is also an element of truth that the war in Iraq has been unpopular and therefore people have got out of the habit of recognising the work that servicemen are doing overseas.

“But what I have witnessed locally, particularly in the last year, is an outpouring of support and I can tell you all of that support really helps the morale of our servicemen. But I believe we still have a way to go.”

The economy topped the agenda at the first public meeting of the Senate, held at East Hampshire District Council in Petersfield on Friday.

The Commander of the HQ 145 (South) Brigade said his top priority however is the health, housing and educational needs of armed service personnel and their families in Hampshire.

“The truth is that our communities are really quite vulnerable.

“The county regiment are deploying to Iraq again and it’s always important for them, particularly The Tigers, to know that their families are going to be looked after at home,” he said.