MoD cutbacks slashed in half
BRITAIN’S defence budget may be cut by five to 10 per cent instead of the threatened 10 to 20 per cent.
This would be a major victory for Defence Secretary Liam Fox against the Treasury which wanted greater savings.
Last month he told Prime Minister David Cameron any cuts in defence spending would seriously harm troops’ morale.
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The Strategic Defence and Security Review of the armed forces is due to be published at around the same time as the Treasury’s Comprehensive Spending Review on October 20. The CSR is expected to herald deep cuts to reduce the record budget deficit.
The defence review meanwhile, looks to a new era of Anglo-French defence co-operation, with sharing of refuelling aircraft, armoured vehicle guns, reconnaissance aircraft and even nuclear submarines. This year’s defence budget of £36.9billion is tipped to be cut by five to 10 per cent over four to five years.
The MoD said yesterday no final decisions had been taken.
Insiders say many of the Army’s Challenger II battle tanks are set to be mothballed.
The RAF could lose many of its fastest jets to concentrate on transport aircraft and helicopters. A senior source said: “The RAF could be led by a helicopter man in future.”
Its earliest Eurofighter Typhoon jets could be put up for sale.
The source added: “The trouble is, no one is likely to want them.”
Last week a security council session chaired by Mr Cameron gave a provisional go-ahead to a £5.2billion order for two aircraft carriers.
However, one of the ships could be put on hold and Whitehall sources said it may be sold at a later date.