Best defence

The British Defence Ministry in in the process of reducing the size of the British army to 82'000 men and women. The MoD argue that the regular army will be supplemented by the Territorial Army which will be expanded. However, the coalition´s defence policy has been shown to be rather flawed and this latest cost cutting drive appears to be yet more defence cuts as the army prepares to withdraw from Afghanistan. The British army will be small in comparison to the French or Germany armies and will be unable to undertake a long term operation without the use of reserve troops. I think the coalition is going too far; the military can´t be reduced any further. Just 15 years ago Britain had a force of 50 frigates and destroyers, this figure has now fallen to just 17. The Royal Air Force is just a shadow of its former self with just 12 squadrons of combat aircraft. The army will be reduced even further losing yet more battalions of infantry. Governments look upon the armed services as an easy target for defence cuts. No one really complains about cuts to the defence budget but it does have seriously consequences. The French Navy is now far superior to the Royal Navy; it has a modern aircaft carrier and new frigates and destroyers. Britain´s new aircraft carriers will not be completed for many years to come. The coalition has to realise that Britain needs a strong and capable defence force. Under present plans this will not be the case.