Plans to drastically scale down the UK’s military may leave the country unable to handle threats, a group of MPs has said. The military maintains plans to reduce troop numbers are aimed at the creation of a “flexible and agile force.”
A report issued by a group of MPs on the Commons Defence
Committee on Thursday leveled harsh criticism at the Ministry of
Defence’s (MOD) plans to scale down the military, in line with
governmental budget cuts. The ‘Army 2020’ restructuring program
will see troop numbers reduced to 82,000 in 2018 from just over
100,000 in 2010.
MPs have alleged such cuts are “financially driven” and could
leave Britain open to “emerging” and
“uncertain” threats and may compromise the armed forces’
ability to respond in emergencies.
"There is no question that UK armed forces will deploy on an
expeditionary operation in the future," said James
Arbuthnot, chair of the Defence Committee, adding the cuts could
have “serious implications” for the future of the armed
forces.
Of special concern to the committee was the “apparent lack of
consultation and involvement.” They claimed the new size of
the UK’s military forces was not part of the original 2010
Defence Review and had not been agreed on with the National
Security Council.
Furthermore, the Committee noted that Army General Sir Peter Wall
was not consulted for his opinion on the changes, he was merely
informed of the cuts by a senior civil servant. In view of this,
the MPs called for the government to supply parliament with an
accurate report on the Amy’s ability to fight before general
elections in May of next year.
To supplement reduced troop numbers, the MoD will double
reservist numbers from 15,000 to 30,000. Defence Secretary
Phillip Hammond said that the measure will ensure the Army
remains a “flexible and agile” force.
Hammond slammed the committee of failing to see the Army’s need
to diversify to combat new threats, such as cyber-attacks.
“It is not possible to maintain traditional regular forces at
historic levels while also investing in countering the threats of
tomorrow,” he said on Wednesday in a statement. “The
Army 2020 structure is not simply about a reduction in size, it
is a complete overhaul of how the army works to deliver a
fully-integrated force, using a better mix of regulars, reserves
and contractors.”
He reiterated that the plan to restructure the UK’s military is
aimed at making sure the army has a “sustainable and properly
funded future.” MPs have warned that if any other cuts are
made it could lead to the “unraveling” of the military.