Minister poised to quit over Army cuts

One option is to reduce Army numbers below the 70,000 mark

A DEFENCE minister is believed to be on the verge of resigning over military spending cuts that would leave the Army with fewer than 70,000 soldiers.

Tobias Ellwood, the minister responsible for service personnel and veterans, is said to be deeply concerned by cost-cutting proposals being considered by the Ministry of Defence.

It comes in the midst of a review into defence expenditure, with the MOD looking to make cutbacks to meet its £36billion budget. That task has been made harder due to the need to upgrade the nuclear deterrent, which will cost upwards of £600million. One option is to reduce Army numbers below the 70,000 mark, which would make its fighting force two thirds the size of that wielded by France. Other options include delaying an upgrade of tanks and armoured vehicles and reducing the number of new Ajax minitanks.

Mr Ellwood, 51, who received a police bravery award for trying to save the life of Pc Keith Palmer during the Westminster terrorist attack, was reported to have told colleagues he will quit should the cuts go ahead. Asked if Mr Ellwood had concerns about the cuts, a senior source said: “Absolutely.”

An MOD spokesman said: “No decisions have been made and any discussion of the options is pure speculation.”