Years of cuts by irresponsible politicians created today’s mess

THE Army is shockingly undermanned after years of savage defence cuts by successive governments.

They know they can get away with such irresponsibility with electoral impunity. But their attitude is shortsighted. The armed forces serve two purposes.

The first is to show the strength and resolve to defend ourselves and our allies. If our forces and the resolve of our politicians to use them is weak, war is far more likely. The Salisbury nerve agent attack shows the liberties Putin is ready to take with a country he sees as weak. The second purpose is to do the fighting.

Undermanned and underfunded forces lead to unnecessary casualties and failure. British soldiers are the ones who will pay with their blood for such neglect.

One example of under-funding is the disastrous recruitment programme, outsourced to Capita. Everyone, including many serving officers, recognises this has been a disaster. I know how appalling it has been, having spent hours trying to help potential recruits penetrate the bureaucracy of the civilianised system.

The consequence is the undermanning we see today which is a political betrayal of our Army and our country by those we elect to ensure we are properly defended.