Flogging stories of victimhood has no place in the armed forces. By initially allowing the 15 sailors and marines held captive by Iran to accept payments from the media for recounting their ordeal, the Navy and the Ministry of Defence have set a dangerous precedent. This failure to grasp the real values of service in the military goes right to the top of the MoD. The reversal of the decision does not undo the damage. In Tony Blair’s Britain, it seems every newsworthy experience must be shared – and does command a price.

When the Iran captives returned to the UK last week, there was intense media interest. Senior naval officers decided that since the detainees’ stories were very likely to come out through friends and families, it would be preferable to allow them to speak for themselves. In these supposedly exceptional circumstances the detainees would be able to keep the payments offered. Des Browne, the defence secretary, endorsed the decision, but quickly changed his mind when faced with a firestorm of outrage. No new media deals can now be struck while a review of the rules is conducted.