‘Give £5bn more to UK’s military’

Defence cuts in recent years have left the British Army half as capable as it once was, a former Chief of the General Staff has said.

General Lord Richard Dannatt said there is a “very strong case” for Britain to increase defence spending, and that the military would benefit from an extra £5 billion a year.

Asked about the current state of Britain’s military he highlighted how the UK has some “very good equipment”, but not enough of it.

Gen Dannatt said that when he was head of the Army in 2009 it numbered 102,000 and is now less than 80,000.

“Ten years ago we could have five combat brigades rotating through a campaign in Iraq, and at the same time five combat brigades rotating through a campaign in Afghanistan,” he said.

“We could not do that now. We could do one but we couldn’t do both.

“The figures are actually quite harsh, for a 7% reduction of the defence budget which is what happened in 2010.

“It resulted in a 20% cut in the size of the Army, and I would actually suggest a 50% cut in what we can actually do.”

With the autumn budget to be set out by Chancellor Philip Hammond on October 29, Gen Dannatt said

“The figures are actually quite harsh”

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has made a good case for more cash.

He also stressed the MoD, the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force have a responsibility “to show the money they are currently getting is being spent well”.

“I think another £2-4 billion or £3-5 billion a year in addition to the £35-36 billion we are currently spending to get us to around about the 2.5% of GDP that would be right,” he said.