Size of armed forces is ‘laughable’

The size of Britain’s armed forces is “laughable” and “disgraceful”, a Tory MP and former United Nations commander has said.

Bob Stewart told MPS that Britain has not got enough troops, as he called on ministers to drop the target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence and instead invest what was necessary.

Conservatives Leo Docherty and Jack Lopresti also put pressure on the government over the target during a Westminster Hall debate, as they raised the prospect of spending closer to 3 per cent of GDP on defence. The size of Britain’s armed forces has been shrinking in recent years, with latest figures showing the number of full-time soldiers is below the previous target of 82,000. 0 Bob Stewart says Britain has not got enough troops