Deal is a scandal for the Forces, say experts

MILITARY experts yesterday branded the Brexit deal on defence as worse than Britain’s greatest military humiliation – surrendering to the Japanese in Singapore in 1942.

They accused the Government of “criminal levels of duplicity” and warned that on military matters the UK will be a “vassal state”.

The onslaught from leading supporters of Veterans for Britain came after repeated warnings that Britain was being sucked into plans for an EU army.

Earlier this week German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the European Parliament she supported a “real, true” European army.

Britain has long opposed the idea, fearing it would undermine the USled Nato alliance but over the years UK forces have signed up to more and more EU commitments.

Critics claim that an EU army would rely disproportionately on Britain to supply fighting forces.

And in the face of this growing momentum across the Channel, Veterans for Britain slammed the Brexit agreement as a “total capitulation on defence”.

Admission

Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan, said: “This deal is a bigger military surrender than Singapore in 1942 because it affects all of the UK’s defence capability.

“The text is finally an admission that the UK be a full rule-taker in defence. The Government continually denied this for 18 months but we knew they were misleading us. The text means a transfer of military sovereignty to the EU Commission.”

He was backed by Professor Gwythian Prins, emeritus research professor at the London School of Economics and an adviser to Veterans for Britain.

Prof Prins said: “What we have witnessed is criminal levels of duplicity. The withdrawal agreement is a total capitulation on defence and makes Britain a vassal state.

“This is not Brexit and means the EU will control vast areas of our defence and foreign policy.”

A Government spokesman said: “The UK is leaving the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy and will retain control of decision making.”