Defence cuts row deepens as Cameron steps in
The focus around the expected cuts to the armed services has intensified as the government argues with itself of how much those cuts should be.
The Ministry of Defence had been told by the Treasury to make defence cuts of least 10 per cent, but it has been reported that Prime Minister David Cameron has limited that cut to between seven to eight per cent.
MoD sources confirmed last night that a deal had been reached, describing it as “a settlement we can work with”.
Army chiefs have been reported to warn Downing Street that deep cuts in the armed forces would threaten the military operations in Afghanistan.
Military cuts
It is anticipated that two new aircraft carriers, the HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Queen Elizabeth, will be completed, but that the rest of the navy’s surface fleet will bear the brunt of their cuts.
The RAF faces the closure of several bases and the possible ending of their Harrier jumpjet fleet – however it is unclear if this is the case, what aircraft would fly from the new aircraft carriers.
A figure of £750m savings could also be made from Trident, although this has yet to be confirmed.
Military cuts
It is anticipated that two new aircraft carriers, the HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Queen Elizabeth, will be completed, but that the rest of the navy’s surface fleet will bear the brunt of their cuts.
The RAF faces the closure of several bases and the possible ending of their Harrier jumpjet fleet – however it is unclear if this is the case, what aircraft would fly from the new aircraft carriers.
A figure of £750m savings could also be made from Trident, although this has yet to be confirmed.
Clinton warning
There was concern earlier this week as Hillary Clinton warned the UK on the potential international impact of deep defence spending cuts in the UK.
She said:
“We do have to have an alliance where there is a commitment to the common defence.”Nato has been the most successful alliance for defensive purposes in the history of the world I guess, but it has to be maintained. Now each country has to be able to make its appropriate contributions.”
The results of the Strategic Defence and Security Review will be announced on Monday, when the true scale of the cuts on MoD’s £37bn budget will be known.
On Monday, the results of the Strategic Defence and Security Review will be announced. The Treasury is looking for 10 per cent cuts to the Ministry of Defence’s £37 billion budget.
However, senior military figures have warned against it – former head of the Army, General Sir Mike Jackson told Channel 4 News that the government needed to consider Britain’s place in the world’s standings before making any cuts.
He said: “I hope the defence review isn’t simply a budget-cutting exercise, but stems from an objective and careful look at where Britain wants to be on the world stage.”
Read more from General Sir Mike Jackson on defence cuts