Defence secretary Geoff Hoon publicly supported the commander of the Royal Marines in Afghanistan yesterday.

"I have every confidence in Brigadier Lane. He is doing a tremendous job in very difficult conditions and he deserves - and gets - our complete support," Hoon told the BBC.

Although the move was designed to counter Whitehall rumours that he was about to be replaced, it has subsequently emerged that the Brigadier is to be replaced when the Marines return from their tour of duty later this year.