MINISTERS ARE “SELLING THE FAMILY SILVER”

MINISTERS ARE “SELLING THE FAMILY SILVER”, SAYS DEFENCE ASSOCIATION

Govt condemned for sacrificing vital air defence and undermining its own Defence Review

The Government is sacrificing Britain’s military capabilities and undermining the credibility of its own Defence Review by making arbitrary short-term cuts in the Armed Forces, according to the UK National Defence Association (UKNDA).

Responding to reports that the Government is planning to close at least one air base and make substantial reductions to RAF manpower, UKNDA spokesman Andy Smith said: “Once again the Armed Forces are paying the price for Governmental mismanagement. Now, to balance the books at the Ministry of Defence, the Government proposes to sacrifice elements of our vital air defence.

“Giving up RAF bases and scaling back our military presence in strategic locations such as Cyprus is tantamount to selling off the family silver. Once sold, these facilities will never again be available to us, and this will inevitably impact on our long-term defence posture should the UK ever have to re-arm. These decisions clearly demonstrate the low priority given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the security of the United Kingdom and the importance of maintaining a properly balanced and well-resourced defence capability.”

He added: “By making these arbitrary short-term cuts, the Government is undermining the credibility of its own Defence Review. How can these decisions be taken now, in advance of the Review? Britain’s Armed Forces are already seriously over-stretched and any further reductions would put the UK is an extremely vulnerable position. We call upon the Government to hold back on making any cuts to the defence budget until our military commitments, needs and resources have been examined thoroughly through the Defence Review.”

The UKNDA, formed two years ago to campaign for properly-resourced Armed Forces, is backed by a number of former service chiefs including Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Lord Craig of Radley (a former Chief of the Defence Staff) and Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon (former Chief of the Air Staff). Its President is Winston S. Churchill, grandson of Sir Winston Churchill.