British army to see number of troops slashed
Defence chiefs discussing plans to cut number of combat personnel
Defence chiefs are considering plans to slash the size of the British army and lend out one of the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carriers amid fears they could be forced into further spending cuts.
The Conservative manifesto unveiled yesterday ditched a promise made in 2017 by Theresa May to “maintain the overall size of the armed forces”.
The party's 2015 manifesto pledge to keep the army’s strength above 82,000 has already been dropped, with the number of fighting personnel currently standing at just 73,000.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Despite a future Tory government vowing to maintain defence spending at more than 2% of GDP, The Sunday Times says service chiefs “are already in conflict over plans that would refocus Britain’s war-fighting capability and cut the number of personnel”.
The paper says senior officers are discussing an army of between 60,000 and 65,000, the smallest for centuries, and “in a move that will cause uproar in the navy, army chiefs are pressing to mothball one of Britain’s new aircraft carriers — or lease it to the Americans”.
One source told the newspaper: “The army hates the aircraft carriers, which they have always seen as white elephants, but the Americans love them. They’re cutting-edge because they can operate with far fewer crew than the US carriers.
“The army can’t recruit or retain the people it needs. Both the army and the navy think that the job of the RAF will soon be done by drones”, they added.
Last year, the former commander of the UK's Maritime Forces, Rear Admiral Alex Burton told the BBC that Britain was in danger of losing its status as a “credible military power”.
Budget cuts and rising military threats meant the ability to “fight and win on the front line” was being affected and if fresh spending was not announced, the UK would be morally poorer on the world stage, Burton warned.
The Daily Mail reports that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has secured a further £2.2bn for the military but has said he would prefer to cut capabilities and do a smaller number of things better, prioritising improved kit rather than an expanded fighting force.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Pentagon faces an uncertain future with Trump
Talking Point The president-elect has nominated conservative commentator Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
This is what you should know about State Department travel advisories and warnings
In Depth Stay safe on your international adventures
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'All Tyson-Paul promised was spectacle and, in the end, that's all we got'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
British defence: the crisis in the Armed Forces
Talking Point Depleted military power may not be able to meet its own commitment to up defence spending to 2.5%
By The Week UK Published
-
The issue of women and conscription
Under the radar Ukraine military adviser hints at widening draft to women, as other countries weigh defence options amid global insecurity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Grant Shapps goes to war on military's 'woke' diversity policies
Talking Point Defence secretary condemns 'extremist culture' as Army reportedly plans to relax security checks on overseas recruits
By The Week UK Published
-
Can the UK rely on the British Army to defend itself?
Today's Big Question Armed forces in ‘dire state’ and no longer regarded as top-level fighting force, US general warns
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will Britain have to fight Russia?
feature New chief, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, says British Army must be capable of winning wars on land
By The Week Staff Published
-
Is Henry Kissinger right about Ukraine?
Speed Read The US statesman made a controversial speech at a virtual Davos appearance last week
By The Week Staff Published
-
What could the British Army learn from Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Kyiv troops’ experience of fighting Russia offers important lessons for UK, defence minister says
By The Week Staff Published
-
How fake priest conned his way into staying at Windsor barracks
Under the Radar The intruder joked with officers in their mess before being offered a bed for the night
By The Week Staff Published