MPs combine firepower for warning over defence cuts
TORY grandees joined Labour in warning against fresh defence cuts as another review kicked off yesterday.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson outlined plans for “further efficiencies” under the Modernising Defence Programme. It comes after Theresa May dropped the military from a national security review.
Tory Iain Duncan Smith told him: “Do not repeat the nonsense of when people say you can modernise, what they actually mean is you cut.” And former Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon added: “What matters in the end is money – more money.” Mr Williamson refused to guarantee HMS Albion and Bulwark would be safe, or that a seventh Astute-class sub will be built. Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith said the review was “raising the spectre of yet further cuts”.