More Cash For Forces Sought

Some of the country’s leading military figures are calling on the Government to provide a substantial boost to funding for the forces.

The urgent cash injection for the army, navy and RAF is being sought by the UK National Defence Association – a new grouping that is being launched to press for a major increase in spending.

They said today that with British troops committed in Iraq and Afghanistan it wants the budget to rise from around two percent of national income to three percent.

Among those supporting the aims are ex-MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove and Prime Minister Gordon Brown's security adviser, Tory MP Patrick Mercer.

The association's patrons are ex-defence chiefs General Lord Guthrie, Admiral Lord Boyce, Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig and former foreign secretary Lord Owen.

Former Tory MP Winston Churchill - the grandson of the Second World War leader - is the association president.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Lord Guthrie said the lack of sufficient resources for the military had become "a most pressing issue".

"Underfunding of our Armed Forces is already having consequences, both for our overall defence capability and for our forces at the sharp end, which are too thinly spread and being required to go to war with equipment which is often outdated and not fit for purpose," he said.

Lord Boyce, who was chief of defence staff at the time of the Iraq invasion, added: "Even though defence did see an increase in the most recent comprehensive spending review, that goes nowhere near addressing the fundamental issue of proper funding and over-commitment."

(BMcC)