John Baron MP criticises MOD over political fix in Army reductions

MP says Army cuts are foolish

Today in the House of Commons, during Defence Questions, John Baron MP criticised the Secretary of State for Defence over Government cuts to the Army. John has three-year figures clearly showing the continual under-recruitment of Scottish battalions relative to the English battalions which are now facing the axe. John served with The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers during the 1980s on a number of operational tours.

John has requested the longer-term recruitment figures for each of the relevant battalions by way of a Named Day Written Parliamentary Question (WPQ) the week before last. This should take up to a maximum of five days to answer, but so far the MOD has failed to supply the figures. Given that reduction decisions were strongly influenced by these figures, they ought to be ready to hand.

John said,

“Despite the MOD being unable to supply the five- and ten-year recruitment figures, in spite of a Named Day WPQ tabled the week before last, the three-year figures clearly show that the better-recruited English battalions – including 2^nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers – are being axed in order to save the more poorly recruited Scottish ones.”

“Will the Secretary of State deny that petty politics surrounding the Scottish referendum has influenced decisions?”

The Secretary of State, Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, denied the claim, and offered John a meeting to discuss the figures. John is accepting his offer.

John said afterwards,

“We will come to regret these defence cuts. We will also come to regret the petty politics that is influencing which battalions are cut. I look forward to putting the record straight when I meet the Secretary of State.”