MP says Government risks ‘cutting into the bone’ of our defence capability
It was announced yesterday that the Secretary of State for Defence is lobbying for £500m to be transferred from other departments in order to lessen the scheduled cuts to the MoD budget. John Baron MP and other Conservative back benchers have been campaigning to get the Government to re-examine its plans to use 30,000 Reservists to plug the gap left by the loss of 20,000 Regular troops – among whom is 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2RRF).
John said,
“The Secretary of State is right to question the level of defence cuts. The Government is cutting into the bone and risks compromising our defence capabilities. A number of us believe the Government’s Reservist plan will prove a false economy, and will not plug the resulting gap both in respect of capability or boots on the ground.”
“In any case, it is a high-risk strategy to let 20,000 Regular troops go before ensuring that the proposed 30,000 Reservists are up to the job. The latest MoD figures reveal that only 40% of TA infantry are capable of deployment. To plug that gap we will therefore need a minimum of 50,000 Reservists. Greater clarity is required.”
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