Some bemusement around here about the new figure of 10,000 British troops in Afghanistan.

The old figure was 9,000, and we are sending another 500. Now Gordon Brown feels the need to reveal the fact that 500 special operatives are at work in the mountain state. The prime minister told the Commons that it was unusual to talk about the activities (of the SAS etc) but he wanted to show the nation’s appreciation.

Or was this just another symptom of Gordon’s love of round numbers? Here is a reminder of some other big figures from the past. And here are some others.

Here is one of my favourites: “750,000″ English teachers for India. And here, Alex recalls the use of round numbers over troop withdrawals from Iraq.

UPDATE

We are told that some members of the SAS are seething over the announcement. “Seething, furious and livid”, is the report from one source with friends in the elite special forces regiment.

November 30, 2009 5:29pm in Gordon Brown, UK politics | Comment