Major suspended after class charge

An Army major who spoke out against the armed forces' "antiquated" 19th- century class system was suspended last night pending an inquiry into his comments.

Announcing the move, the Ministry of Defence said the inquiry would consider the highly critical article written by Major Eric Joyce for the the Fabian Society, left-wing think-tank.

Major Joyce had warned that the military could not carry on being run by public school-educated officers, and must root out prejudice in class, gender and race.

But the MoD said he should not have entered into public debate on political matters.