Cummings’ ‘small but deadly’ secret mission
DOMINIC CUMMINGS will visit topsecret security sites as part of a Government review to focus the military on “small but deadly” hi-tech units.
It is understood the Prime Minister’s aide was invited to five of the UK’S highly classified sites ahead of the integrated defence and security review.
The Daily Telegraph understands the three key priorities for the Armed Forces establishment as it enters the review process are “greater lethality, more technological sophistication and further reach and projection”.
One source said that in order to achieve these priorities “there will be a big move towards cyber and smaller, hyper specialised units”, like the five sites Mr Cummings plans to visit.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Cummings’ tour will include visits to the Special Boat Service in Poole, SAS headquarters in Hereford, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, Rapid Capabilities Office at Farnborough and the Defence Intelligence Unit at Wyton.
The sites on his list are significant due to their specialised and more advanced nature, being built around low-scale, highly specialised interventions.
The Telegraph understands that boosts to the SBS and SAS are anticipated as a long-term shift is pursued away from low level, low grade infantry and traditional military platforms to “small but deadly” operations.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats questioned why Mr Cummings, who is believed to have twice visited MI6 and MI5, was granted clearance to sensitive sites. John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, called the MOD a “bystander” in what is regarded as the biggest defence review since the Cold War.
“Plans for Britain’s future defence and security should not be in the hands of a political adviser,” he said. “We need a full assessment and wide debate about the threats the UK faces, led by military specialists.”
A No 10 spokesman defended the Cummings visits. He said: “He is of course the Prime Minister’s senior adviser, and so being in that position – as you would expect – he regularly visits Government sites and meets ministers.”