The revelation that Gordon Brown went for the cheapest option when asked by Army chiefs for reinforcements in Afghanistan prompted accusations today that the Government was more interested in saving money than lives.

The Times reported today that the Prime Minister rejected a recommendation by military chiefs to send 2,000 more troops to Helmand Province despite being warned that not to do so could jeopardise the mission against the Taleban.

Instead he chose to send only 700 extra troops, taking the todal from 8,300 to 9,000, and only on a temporary basis before the presidential elections in August. It was the cheapest of four options put to No 10 and the Treasury by military chiefs.

The Tories called on the Government to explain why it decided not to accept the Army's recommendations on troop reinforcements. “Gordon Brown has said that our commanders will have whatever they require," said Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary.

"When it comes to troop numbers, decisions must be based on advice from senior military commanders on the ground. If the Government turns down any request, it needs to explain why.”

As the bodies of eight soldiers killed in the British Army's bloodiest 24 hours in Afghanistan were being flown home, The Times report provoked anger on internet forums.

"When is our disgraceful Government going to get their act together and give our soldiers and the armed forces the vital equipment and manpower they need?" wrote one poster on Arrse, the online Army Rumour Service.

"It seems from my point of view that our Government is more interested in saving money than the lives of our soldiers and armed forces, which is totally disgraceful."

The Government was asked to approve the troop reinforcements as plans were drawn up for Operation Panther’s Claw, a major offensive against the Taleban. The campaign, which was launched in mid-June, has so far claimed the lives of 17 British soldiers.

The head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, said that the families of those killed should take "great comfort" that they had died taking in a mission vital to the UK’s security.

Speaking to the BBC after attending the "ramp" ceremony in Afghanistan before the repatriation of the bodies of the eight soldiers, General Dannatt conceded that the spate of deaths raised questions about the operation.

He said: “A high number of deaths inevitably makes you question what we are doing, how we are doing it. The conclusion one has to reach is, going right back to basics on this, this mission is really important.

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