Army cuts and recruitment crash ‘failed to enable UK to tackle crises’, ministers warned

Ministers have been urged to scrap plans for more defense cuts after a collapse in military recruitment left Britain unable to deal with ‘major international crises’.

Army recruitment has fallen by more than a fifth in the past year, in line with plans to reduce the army to just 73,000 by 2025 – the smallest size since the Napoleonic era.

Last night, the government was told it risks appearing ‘arrogant and unwilling to learn lessons’ if ministers continue austerity at a time of ‘open war’ in Europe.

A report from the House of Commons Defense Committee warned that: Russia‘s invasion and the Taliban‘s takeover of Afghanistanhave shown that the UK was ‘apparently unprepared for major international crises’.

The committee chair, Tobias Ellwood, said: ‘Clearly now is not the time for staff cuts or budget deficits in our armed forces.

“In these uncertain times, our capabilities and willingness must be rock solid. We need to spend more and spend wisely.

“Anything less would be a denial of the reality we face.”

The number of squadrons has been in free fall since 2010, when the army’s full-time strength was 100,000. This year there are only 77,190.

An additional 4,000 messages will be deleted over the next three years. Since no soldiers are expected to be discharged, the required reduction will be achieved by hiring fewer recruits.

Figures obtained by Labor reveal army recruitment has collapsed across the country, with the south west and east of England seeing the biggest declines in the past year, at 35 per cent.

Defense Secretary John Healey accused the government last night of ‘weakening’ Britain’s armed forces as the UK faces greater threats and greater obligations to NATO.

The armed forces are also being called upon to provide troops in support of other public services, such as the NHS during the pandemic and the UK Border Force’s anti-migrant operations in the Channel.

In a recent speech, the chief of the army, General Sir Patrick Sanders, suggested he agreed with those who called for the proposed cuts to the army to be rolled back.

Sir Patrick told an audience at the military think tank of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) that while technology was revolutionizing warfare, certain tasks could only be performed by soldiers.

But for now, the MOD remains committed to reducing the crew.

In the coming years, the UK’s defense spending is predicted to fall as well, with what Britain spends on its military staying below NATO’s target of 2 percent of GDP.

Such a cut in investment would also see the UK move to eighth as a percentage of GDP from Europe’s largest defense issuer.

Last night, the defense secretary warned that, in the face of mounting threats, the UK must commit to increasing defense spending by tens of billions of pounds.

Ben Wallace’s comments were significant as he does not yet support either candidate in hopes of becoming the next prime minister.

He told Sky News: “We expect to be probably below 2 percent by 2026. We’re going down and we’re going to keep falling.’

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has pledged to increase UK defense spending to 3% of GSP if appointed.

Rishi Sunak was less explicit about spending commitments, suggesting he was against “random targets.”

Last night, a MOD spokesperson said: “The military met 98 percent of its recruiting target for regular soldiers and 100 percent of its target for regular officers last year. It still has the people needed to fulfill all its operational obligations.

“The army will have more than 100,000 personnel, comprising a trained regular army of 73,000 and a total army reserve of more than 30,000.”