Defending defence

Politics is a tough game and it has been known for ministers to square up to one another in the heat of an election campaign when they felt power was slipping away. But to learn of two senior members of the Cabinet rowing openly in the House of Commons over a key aspect of Government policy is unusual to say the least. So heated was the apparent contretemps between Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, and Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, that the Prime Minister had to intervene to separate them.

Mr Williamson has only been in the department a few weeks but has had to grapple immediately with the realities of the Defence Review currently under way. In the past, such a review would establish the country’s strategic needs and build its defences to match them. Now, the process appears to involve seeing how much money is available and squeezing the military to fit the budget.

The latest uncertainty caused by this retrenchment is over pay. More than 150,000 members of Britain’s Armed Forces are expected to have their annual award delayed by two months next year, though the MOD insists no one will actually lose money. There was an expectation that the 1 per cent pay cap would be lifted across the public sector. With the rest of the MOD budget facing reductions this cannot be taken for granted; but it would be unfair if the Armed Forces missed out as other sectors received an increase.

While the Government is consumed by Brexit there is a danger that an issue as crucial as the nation’s defences will suffer by default. The review of security capabilities must be carried out in the national interest and not become another Treasury cuts exercise – otherwise Mr Williamson will not be alone in his anger.