Fresh boost for British Army amid growing threat of Vladimir Putin

Defence chiefs will scrap “needless red tape” and allow the Army to recruit more soldiers suffering from hay fever, eczema and acne.

Defence Secretary John Healey warned Britain’s Armed Forces are missing out on “great talent”.

He will vow to end the recruitment and retention crisis, with a “new ambition” to make job offers within 10 days and to start training within 30.

And Mr Healey will confirm plans to bolster the nation’s defences against Russian online intelligence operations. He said gamers and cyber experts will be fast-tracked into the UK’s online defence force.

Russian actors have been caught trying to hack into Britain’s core defence structure 90,000 times over the past two years.

Defence Secretary John Healey will say in his address to Labour Party conference: “We are deeply proud of those who serve our country and we are determined to tackle the crisis in recruitment and retention caused by years of Conservative hollowing-out.

“Our Armed Forces rightly set the highest standards and with Labour that will continue. At the same time, we will unblock the bottlenecks, the needless red tape and delays which are turning great talent away from our forces.

“As the world changes, and threats evolve, we also need to ensure our recruitment is right for the 21st century. That’s why we will remove unnecessary barriers and fast-track bright candidates into cyber defence to help face down Putin’s online aggression.

“Alongside the largest pay rise in 20 years for existing troops, Labour is getting on with fixing the foundations of our armed forces and supporting the brave men and women who keep Britain safe.”

Capita, which is in charge of recruitment for the British Army, said the strict health tests were frustrating attempts to recruit more soldiers.

People who have tattoos on their necks, face or hands, a history of asthma and hay fever, as well as those who had broken bones when they were children, are being denied entry, it said.

MPs were told that Capita had succeeded in lowering the barrier for entry for applicants who have a history of asthma, and wishes to do the same for those with a record hay fever.

Previous rules meant recruits had to have avoided any flare ups of asthma for four years before joining the Army, but this has now been reduced to two years, with plans to lower it further to one year.

Mr Healey used a Sun on Sunday interview to give more detail of his cyber plans, telling the newspaper: “If you are good at tech, if you have a passion for cyber, if you’re good at gaming, then you may have the skills that the British military needs.”