New defence chief urged to fend off ‘pinstripe warriors’

GAVIN WILLIAMSON has claimed “hard work” is taking place across Government to give the “right resources” to the Armed Forces, amid Tory pleas to “fend off ” Treasury cuts.

But the Defence Secretary would not comment on speculation that the defence element of the ongoing strategic defence and security review would be separated.

Tory former Minister Mark Francois said Mr Williamson would receive support from his colleagues and those on the Labour benches if he continued to rebuff the “pinstripe warriors” of the Treasury.

Julian Lewis, chairman of the Defence Committee, also said defence was the UK’s national insurance policy, adding: “It’s time for the Treasury to pay the premiums.”

Further cuts are feared amid major pressure on the defence budget.

Conservative MP Mr Lewis questioned why the review had provisionally proposed “radical reductions” in the UK’s conventional Armed Forces given the intensifying threats, and why it was required to be fiscally neutral.

He said: “Who has imposed that financial restriction? The MoD? Unlikely. The Treasury? Almost certainly.

“Why should thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen be lost, elite units be merged, or aircraft frigates and vital amphibious vessels be scrapped long before their out-of-service dates?”

A number of Conservative backbenchers urged Mr Williamson not to make further cuts to personnel.

Bob Stewart said the infantry battalion he joined in 1969 with 780 officers and soldiers had now been reduced to little more than 500.

“To do that and still call something a battalion is a great loss of capability,” he said.