The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is facing significant scrutiny after a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed a substantial shortfall in funding for the UK’s military capabilities.
According to the report, there is a £16.9 billion deficit between the MOD’s budget and the required funding for desired military capabilities, despite a £46.3 billion increase in the Equipment Plan budget.
The report found that “the MoD is becoming increasingly reliant on the UK’s allies to protect the UK’s national interests, which carries the risk that such support might not always be available”.
Explaining this finding, the paper reasons that “recent international developments, including the war in Ukraine, have reinforced the importance of strategic international partnerships for the UK. The UK has been working with its allies, including Ukraine, to develop interoperable equipment, pool essential munitions and encourage industry to build its capacity to supply the necessary equipment. However, for deterrence to be effective the UK’s Armed Forces must be credible.
Such credibility is undermined by widely reported recruitment and retention issues, with more people leaving the Armed Forces than are being recruited, the mothballing of Royal Navy ships because of crew shortages, and the unavailability this year of the only Royal Navy ship able to fully replenish the UK’s aircraft carriers because of a refit.”
Adding, “Given the changing global security picture, it is vital for the MoD to work with industry, including through the Defence Suppliers Forum, and also the higher education sector to ensure sufficient supply of highly skilled workers and also apprentices to the defence sector. With the support of its allies, the UK’s Armed Forces continue to fulfil a crucial role internationally. However, many allies are facing similar challenges to the UK, which might affect their ability and willingness to continue providing extensive support.”
In response to this, the report recommends that “The MoD should assess the extent to which its capability requirements are reliant on support from the UK’s allies and develop mitigations for how it would manage the risk of allied support being curtailed or withdrawn.”
They have to Scrap totally the armed forces, for what to reduce It step by step, reduce totally and finish the goal .
I’ll have a pint of what Micki’s drinking. Didn’t understand a word of that.
Poss Troll from Outer Mongolia?
I for one pay homage to our new Ruski Overlords and on that basis just let me know what I can do to make your occupation more pleasurable.
Back in the day NATO members would look at the UK only 2nd to the USA for might .No more 😞
You might not like this answer. But most NATO nations still see it that way. And it’s not just about how many tanks or warships we have. It goes much further than that.
Except back in the day the western German army was massive and west Germany outspent us. No one in NATO other than the US outspends us even with the crappy current Tories budget.
Problem is if you take out the nukes our conventional defence budget isn’t as high. Probably fairly similar to most other NATO allies prior to this year ie less than 2%. And % of GDP is odd measure if we could get the current population(no more people) to raise GDP by 200b then thats 4b more for defence but were still spending 2%. If we go into a big recession and loose 200b of GDP, then we’ll be spending over 2% so would actually cut the defence budget back in cash terms to meet 2%. Government can also spend money… Read more »
I blame the delusion of the so called peace dividend. But there is more to it than that. Do not forget that government tried everyway possible to sell or force, complete integration into the internally borderless superstate. A fully interdependent EU defence policy was a major part of that strategy.
Atrocious that they couldn’t see this coming like most of us. Or treasonous that they saw it & did nothing but cut even further leaving defence disfunctional.
It’s present tense. They are standing up to podia and warning everybody about the risk. They see it coming. They are still cutting further and fiddling the figures just like they did in the Cameron period. If you truly believe it’s treasonous and want to bring a private prosecution, you’ll get nowhere legally, but you might get the attention of the press.
Anyone know what ‘Podia’ is? Bad enough with Russia and.China don’t tell me we have yet another even more stealth evil Empire to fight.
There is no better measure of a nations independence than a strong military. Do you think forcing total reliance on working with EU countries for our very existance, was the aim.
It is far better for our national identity, if we build on an alliance with the anglosphere.
I watch an interview this morning with Labours Annalise Dodd’s talking about how the present Government has left the defence of the UK in a mess and how Labour spent 2.5% on defence when they were last in power. She then went on to discuss waste and talk about a Labour Strategic defence review when they come to power later his year if polls are to be believed. Although a laudable ambition to increase defence spending to problem goes back to John Majors lack of defence spending and Blair and Brown both being drawn into a false sense of security… Read more »
Good Post. Today’s problem is fundamentally that we have been forced to try and replace too much kit all at the same time. And that started with Major, then Blair, Brown and Cameron, they all took the foot off the pedal and ignored defence. Gaps or extending the Lifetime of Kit were acceptable to defer immediate expenditure with no thought of the effects to Defence or Industry. So although I hate to say it I can’t blame the present Government for this fiasco. We are trying to fund the replacement of so many bits of kit at the same time… Read more »
I think it laughable for Labour to be critical of the Tories on defence, like voting for Jeremy at the last election would have seen any increase in capabilities. If they’d had something credible to offer last election then they can have a pop but otherwise they need to reflect the on the damage they’ve done by putting the Tories in charge of defence for another 5 years. Both parties unfit to govern in my view.
The Shadow Foreign Secretary has called Donald Trump a “woman hating, neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath” and a “profound threat to the International Order” but should Labor take office and Trump elected President, he will condescend to work with Trump. Is someone putting LSD in the drinking water in the UK?
Nothing inaccurate about what was said! That’s a rarity for a UK politician!
Guess you won’t need Don T’s help then! Have fun dealing with Russia on your own!
Have fun dealing with China on your own!
Because you guys are going to make or break it right? 😂
Fact is Europe and America need each other, the days when the US can handle World events on its own or indeed flourish economically without a healthy Europe are going fast but sadly much of the population simply don’t understand what’s happening. Island USA is an impractical dream and a Europe dominated by Russia would simply ensure you have 2 economic powerhouses to contend with which would go on to control the whole World outside of North America as Africa, Asia and South America fall completely under their combined spell, it’s worrying enough as it is. All you would be… Read more »
I can tell you watch CNN or BBC propaganda services, but not much else. Your political innuendo is over the top. How credible would I be if I used the term “WOKE” every third sentence? That’s where you’re at right now. 😂 The USA was isolationist its entire history prior to 1940. If you want the US to help, you need to show that it’s something you take seriously. As of now most of the Europeans are still happily spending 2%, so it must not be much of a problem. Spending US money and blood on something you could have… Read more »
Trump ain’t going to help anyone but himself. Anyone thinking otherwise is kidding themselves.
Exactly, he will want things to look good for 5 years even as he sabotages the future for those who follow so that he even looks good in hindsight, while the World and his own Country burn thereafter, as far as he is concerned that is of secondary concern, a true Nero like a self serving psychotic power complex that he shares with Putin.
To be fair Trump was right on what he said about Nato, if you dont pay your green fees, why should you get to pay. Germany took the whiz and got called out. few others what to play but not paying the caddies either
The deranged Labour. Trump has a Jewish son in law and changed embassy to Jerusalem…
And if there is an women hating is the Labour with trans ideology.
and your point being? the statement is proven in court to be correct but polictics is polictics and both side will suck it up and work with each other as international trade isnt’ about who is leader and who isn’t, its about what each nation as a whole needs from the other.
Actually Labour want to be closer to Europe, so actually a bit of a fall out with Trump would be a good thing for them politically. A US trade deal for instance won’t be on their to do list and easily justifiable because of a spat with Trump. Could also see them dropping AUKUS, again not bad for them they’d prefer to be in EU weapons programs. So politically have some difficulties with Trump could even be in the play book.
And btw didn’t vote for brexit and don’t support Tories or Labour so its just my take on things.
Being closer to the EU doesn’t mean being further from the US. Ideally you want both to have good trade terms.
Not having a trade deal with the US however is a massive positive as they want it to be secret and entirely on their terms, which isn’t good for the UK.
Surely you mean not have a good trade deal with the US. Having a bad trade deal with anyone is bad, but a good trade deal with the US is surely a good thing. Discounting even negotiating a deal because we think we can’t competently negotiate is not in UKs interest. Infact with the US wanting to decouple from China now is a good time.
In theory yeah but name one of our recent trade deals where the government’s own data show it adds anything to our gdp. The US wants us to buy their lower quality food and access to the NHS and the question is what do we get for that. The US is the biggest economy in the world and so it has all the cards in a trade deal.
The US wants access to the NHS?? 😂 What hocus pokus conspiracy is this?
80% of all routine operations are now undertaken by private companies. The NHS has already been sold off. Yes the US health care industry wants in on the action.
Shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted!
There are no problems, plenty of time to get everything organised, no shortages, no budget deficet, no recruiting problems, we can easily out shoot everybody else with the smallest forces in UK history. 🙃 I thought I would get in first with the likely replies when I say we are in a very sorry state, bereft of ideas and close to not being able to defend the UK , never mind anybody else.😠
Explain exactly how we can’t defend the UK? And who from? Remembering our geographical location and the allies that surround us. Or do you think the French are going to have pop at us.
The usual head in the sand bs from admiral Nelson. One example is the complete lack of air defence. We are wide open to sub launchered cruise missile attack. Your mythical royal navy that rules the waves and protects the country ceased to exist a long time ago.
If we were any other country I would agree, but as we know we are a puppet state of the US military and if they go to war somewhere in the world we will also, at which point the troops need the equipment and numbers to fight them wars.
It will be like Elizabeth 1st at Tilbury waiting for the Spanish Armada, big talk with little substance to carry it out. Except if it’s our PM in that role he will be doing it via satellite from the East coast of America.
I hadn’t hought about it quite that way but you’re right. The Armada, Napoleon, Hitler, even the Falklands ( which we could not repeat ). We have been saved time and time by the skin of our teeth. There are many on UKDJ who keep telling me that we are able to rely on our allies and there is plenty of time. Imagine what would have happened without the privateers or the decision to bring out our ships from reserve just a year before Napolean struck. What would have happened if, as possible, the Spitfire was cancelled or if we… Read more »
The problem will always be these ‘Global Britain ‘ aspirations being underwritten by a ‘Local Britain ‘ budget. They’ve been cutting and reducing since the fifties while loudly proclaiming that capability is better than ever.
global britain was always one of them things that had no detail behind it and so everyone is open to intrepret it as they like (same with leveling up, anything and everything has been included under the banner, even stuff that has been in place for years). Britain has and will always be global as the country trades with the rest of the world, even if we had no military at all we would still be global. buzz word statements without any detail or delivery has always been boris’s expertise, it allows multiple people to intrepret it for their benefit… Read more »
All countries trade globally to various extents, global trade wasn’t my point. I was emphasising the shortfall between defence commitments and engagements and treasury funding. If the government wants to continue as a global player with worldwide military reach and expeditionary capabilities, then the treasury needs to commit to funding the MOD to reflect that stance.
Yeah sorry, wasn’t aimed at your comment specifically, more the whole global britian nonsense. As it was a vague statement, with no way to measure if it was happening or not, it meant that the government could get away with not investing in anything and just assign anything and everythign positive to it and pretend that was what they meant all along without actually doing anything. If they meant a global miltiary precence then they needed to invest in the miltiary to achieve it, but it wasnt’ what they ever said, people just assigned frigates dong flag flying visits as… Read more »
Its not the choice of a government, take for instance how may British citizen work oversea, how many business operate around the world. The world ‘our interests’ is often not understood but its mostly driven by UK citizens and where they are. 100 of thousands of UK citizen in the middle east for instance are ‘our interests’
Such negativity guys. I know it is only to be expected on these types of forums – but you are beginning to lose the plot.😀 Yes the UK has reduced numbers virtually everywhere – however our strategy has changed. We deter now and 32 NATO members (three Nuclear) is quite a deterrence. Also our enemies have changed. Russia is currently running itself into the ground fighting one of it’s old allies. Argentina is no longer run by a desperate military dictator & is a little short on kit.Need I go on. Many of you are still gibbering on about how… Read more »
One country deters, the other 31 hang on like dependent step children.
That’s what one orange says. And russian trolls in every X and forum try to use this narrative to divide the West. How’s the weather in St. Petersburg by the way?
Some could be more positive & generous that is true. To fail to deter puts everyone at risk.
NATO’s Nuclear deterrent is provided by only three countries – the US, UK and France. So 32 countries are being protected by three – a hugely expensive task. Isn’t it about time that the other 29 contributed directly to the cost of the CASD?
Discuss…
Anyone contributing would imply willingness to share decisions how to use nukes. Which is not going to happen, nor it should – see Orban or Fico. Anyway paying for protection, you realize?, is a Godfather/Mafia point. Allies share what they have. UK has not enough escort vessels for a CSG? I see it perfectly OK that other countries step in, no need to dramatise the situation.
Good point…
NATO deters with conventional and nuclear weapons. The strength of NATO is 32 nations offerring potentially everything they have to the defence of their own & fellow nations.
Thus far in Europe and North America (over the last 70 years) all the NATO nations have gained vast amounts by not having any world wars. If wars had not been avoided and democracy had not prevailed how may of us would even be alive let alone had families etc.
Sorry but France has never assigned its “Force de Frappe” to NATO nor taken part in the NATO NPG (Nuclear Planning Group). The US does but only for its European Tactical Nuclear bombs and those it provides dual key Bombs to.
Which means that only Strategic Weapons actually completely assigned to NATO are ours. All goes back to the agreement in the 1950’ with the US on Nuclear Defence Cooperation.
To be really honest, I didn’t realise it was only us 3.
Well said.
Wow… “Such negativity” Facts are facts… I sometimes with they were not so. At the start of the current Russia/Ukraine war, it WAS the 40’s-50′ numbers and mentality, that have prolonged the conflict thus far, with no immediate sign that it will change. Numbers, numbers, numbers and… oh I’m sure you get it by now! Russia has vast numbers of footsloggers, China has vast numbers of footsloggers. North Korea has over 1 million footsloggers. These are the current threats to the west, but no, your right of course… The UK’s Infantry strength currently stands at 19,000 I believe. Even if… Read more »
Correct me if I am wrong but you appear to be proposing the UK ditch the RN, RAF and NATO and somehow try to match Russia, China, and North Korea for infantry numbers. Excellent let’s play to their strengths and ignore ours. Obviously we are rubbish at tech & innovation and the recruitment crisis will be resolved by a proposed return to trench warfare. Interesting strategy. 😂
Wow dude… where did I say anything, about matching those numbers of footsloggers???? Read… READ what was written before you come across as a complete gobshite!
Tom take a look at the comments you have made throughout this article. “Doing way with UK armed forces”. “Government has not interest in them”, “withdraw to our shores” are just in the next paragraph. You say these things but don’t expect others to respond. People on this forum tend to support our forces and push for improvements. Therefore when we see someone talking what we believe to be nonsense – don’t be surprised if people say so. You are obviously welcome to your opinion.
It’s time to do away with the UK armed forces as we know them. The government has no interest in them, and even less interest in forking out money for them. Time to withdraw to our shores, keep our nose out of other peoples business, and slowly reduce the size of the armed forces, to a point where they concentrate on home defence only. Get rid of the Falklands, give back Gibraltar, let the UN sort out Cyprus, and leave NATO. It pains me to say it, but the UK armed forces have been reduced to a laughing stock around… Read more »
Knobody around the world thinks the UK Armed Force’s are a laughing stock. If they did, they wouldn’t be sending thousands to be trained in the UK every year. Ukraine wouldn’t be sending its new fighter pilots through RAF training. We wouldn’t be striking targets in Yemen thousands of miles from home. Or ongoing operations over Syria and Iraq. We wouldn’t be a permanent member of the security council or an independent nuclear deterrent, or a member of the 5 eye’s agreement, or be designing nuclear submarines for Australia. Or providing billions of aid to Ukraine and supplying thousands of… Read more »
Bravo. One could go on quite a lot actually!
Cheers pal 👍
Why do you think the UK takes part in strikes against Yemen?
Not even the US generals, who said we are no longer capable of taking part in ground operations?
Never heard so much twaddle in all my life. If it aint broke don’t fix it. Reaching back into known history we have never had such a prolonged period of peace. Whatever we are doing it is working. Things may not be perfect but in the private sector there is no food or accomodation you will probably have to cook it yourself at home. Lots of industries are having their difficulties. Easiest thing in the world is to blame it on the Government. Wait 12 month and blame it on another Government. Whats the difference. If you can do better… Read more »
I’m not really interested in your view to be honest. Your blind faith, and total lack of reality, plus a complete inability to acknowledge the facts is at best… baffling! I am also wondering whether there is a slight political ‘tinge’ to your defensive rantings. Your ‘views’ are all a part of the overall problem. “Reaching back into known history we have never had such a prolonged period of peace”. “If it aint broke don’t fix it” Wow dude… It IS BROKE, thats the whole point here! So by employing that logic, we should water down the Armed Forces? Oh… Read more »
Nothing is broke Tom. We have a peacetime military and on the basis of the report from the chief of the defence staff no political party will be planning any massive changes especially as we are part of NATO and have Nuclear weapons. There might be a modest increase in spending planned but certainly your strategy of packing up and going home is not on the cards.
You might not be interested in other peoples views or even facts in which case I suggest you cease posting on here as people tend to speak their minds.
Gotta say, I’ve never gotten the feeling that other forces are laughing at us, no matter who we were working with.
Yep. Laughing at our: Carriers. T45. T26. SSNs. SSBN. Missiles like Viper and CAMM. AWE infrastructure. 5 eyes infrastructure and know how virtually NO ONE else possess. Pathfinder. GOSCC. Our history, training and professionalism. Officers off Sandhurst, Navies queuing up to attend Thursday War at FOST. The DSF. ( especially crap and hillarious, obviously ) Apache AH50E Merlin. Sonar 2087 Spearfish / Stingray. MCM and EOD expertise. LI of the quality of the Paras, Marines and Rangers. Our ISTAR aircraft which, along with SF, are some of the first assets requested by the US. Reaper, Protector. P8 Typhoon. Brimstone, Meteor,… Read more »
So when exactly, did the conversation switch from numbers of boots on the ground, arses sitting in cockpits, or Navy types, doing navy things?????????
The technology matter (which thanks ever so much, and nicely listed there) is not a subject that I was commenting on.
Wow…
Tom. You don’t know anything about defence, do you. Just another random hear to disagree with everyone just for the fun of it.
Ah now there you go… we were getting along sooo well, in just having a debate, with differing opinions. Then you have to go nause it all up, by being defensive and obnoxious. Well before you dry up and blow away, I do actually know quite a lot about defence, budgets and reality. Your comments are based on… at a guess I’d say no more than sentimentality. I may be wrong, but I’m inclined to believe that what you and certain others in here know about military defence issues, you could probably put on the back of a postage stamp…… Read more »
Such a nice bloke eh Tom. All i see is you arguing and falling out with everyone you come across. I don’t have explain my experience. Which is from first hand experience. Not that made up kinda experience. You just exist to try and do everyone down. I ain’t falling for it pal. If you post something sensible. You will get sensible replies. Until then, Jog on shipmate.
So true
Awful typo on mobile autocorrect. AH50 Lol. Of course, AH64E.
Agreed.
Totally agree.
To fix the problem with defence and employment in the UK is going to need major reform to address the root problems and sustained long term investment
In my humble opinion, if you look at it simply we are spending a million pounds 55,000 times a year, then look at what it could buy instead of what it does buy.
Therein lies the problem
Since winning the Cold War, all subsequent British governments have been permitted to neglected their primary duty. Defence of the realm.
Just saying is all… it was the Conservatives doing the exact same thing in 1982, that ended up with the UK having to nigh on ‘lease back’ ships to go to the Falkland’s.
None of them were perfect, including the Iron Lady.
We used to have a great Armed Forces but with successive cuts by all governments be it Labour, Conservative they have damaged our armed forces if a foreign power decides to invade us I doubt we will be able to defend ourselves. It needs someone with the guts to bite the bullet and invest in our armed forces and seriously look at bringing in conscription.
Which foreign power would that be?
Conscription? Sounds like you feel the threat is akin to trench warfare. Ukraine is looking for modern western weapons to break it out of tranch warfare and give it a decisive advantage.
Successive governments have for the last thirty years claimed ‘peace dividends’ The net result is defence research has been gutted, sovereign industry sold off/destroyed and force structures hollowed out. Service personnel living conditions are described by our own government as ‘not fit for human habitation. Meanwhile idiot Shapps is going round telling the world how invincible we are (when combined with our allies!) It will take ten years to rebuild our industry and force structures. And even now Iran is committing acts of war against Israel we see no reason to improve our defence The Roman’s knew ….Siv is Pacem… Read more »