Army cuts ‘have left UK unable to tackle crises’

MINISTERS have been urged to scrap plans for more defence cuts after a collapse in Army recruitment which has left Britain unable to tackle ‘major international crises’.

Recruiting has crashed by more than a fifth in the past year, in line with plans to reduce the Army to just 73,000 troops by 2025, according to figures obtained by Labour.

Last night the Government was told it risks looking ‘arrogant’ should ministers press ahead with cuts at a time of ‘open war’ in Europe.

A report by the Commons defence committee warned

‘We need to spend more and wisely’

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan have demonstrated that the UK was ‘not prepared for major international crises’.

The committee’s chairman Tobias Ellwood said: ‘Now is not the time for cuts. We need to spend more and spend it wisely. Anything less would be denial of the reality we face.’

Numbers have been in freefall since 2010, when the Army’s full-time strength was 100,000. This year it is just 77,190.

A further 4,000 posts will be removed by 2025. As no soldiers are expected to be sacked, the reduction will be achieved by enlisting fewer recruits.

An MOD spokesman said: ‘The Army continues to have the people needed to fulfil all of its operational commitments.’