Ex-defence chiefs call for more MoD funding
The government is under renewed pressure to increase military spending after complaints the armed forces lack the resources to fight a war on two fronts.
Three former defence chiefs have launched the UK National Defence Association (UKNDA), lobbying the government to increase the military budget.
Lord Guthrie, Admiral Lord Boyce and Marshall of the RAF Lord Craig are calling on the government to increase defence spending to three per cent of national income.
Currently defence spending stands at around two per cent of GDP.
The UKNDA hopes to gain support from the major political parties. It has already been backed by former foreign secretary Lord Owen, ex-MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove and Tory MP Patrick Mercer.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Lord Guthrie said the armed forces were “quite honestly struggling” to fight a war in two countries and needed more resources.
He said the military had been underfunded at the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“They were not ready,” he explained, and it had been “extremely difficult” to gets things corrected quickly.
Lord Guthrie said: “Re-supplying an army in the field is not like stocking shelves in Tesco, this is an extremely complicated and dangerous thing to do.”
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said the department welcomed any initiative that encourages an informed debate about the military.
He said: “The UK National Defence Association’s supporters include prominent former senior military personnel, including chiefs of staff, and their experience will undoubtedly be invaluable in any such debate.
“The recent Comprehensive Spending Review settlement means an additional £7.7 billion for defence by 2011 – continuing the longest period of sustained real growth in planned defence spending since the 1980s.
“It is evidence of the government’s commitment to defence and to the men and women who serve with the utmost bravery in our Armed Forces.”
Yesterday the Oxford coroner criticised the MoD over the unlawful killing of fusilier Gordon Gentle in Iraq. It was found patrols had not been equipped with a bomb disabling device that could have saved fusilier Gentle’s life.
Lord Guthrie said both servicemen and civil servants within the MoD were frustrated and said it was “very difficult to do what they do with the funds available”.
He speculated Lord Paul Drayson’s resignation yesterday as defence procurement minister had been borne out of frustration, not, as stated, his plans to prepare for the Le Mans 24-hour race.
Lord Guthrie told Today: “I found it a very surprising story. I would think that probably – and I’m putting words into his mouth – he is frustrated by the bureaucracy and that some of the plans of modernising procurement are just not achievable unless more money is available but he is a loyal member of the government.
“He is not going to say that. That’s what my interpretation would be.”
