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Armed forces 'face tinpot future' Armed forces 'face tinpot future'
(about 8 hours later)
Britain's armed forces could be reduced to a "tinpot gendarmerie" because of a lack of investment, the former head of the Royal Navy head has warned. Britain's armed forces could be reduced to a "tinpot gendarmerie" because of a lack of investment, the former head of the Royal Navy has warned.
Admiral Sir Alan West said the Ministry of Defence was behaving "like these tinpot countries" that do not put money into major equipment programmes. Admiral Sir Alan West said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was behaving "like these tinpot countries" that do not put money into major equipment programmes.
He expressed concern that plans for two new aircraft carriers may be scrapped. He told the Sunday Telegraph Britain's global status could be at risk if plans for two aircraft carriers were dropped.
Sir Alan, who retired this year, told the Sunday Telegraph Britain's world power status was at risk without them. "Our forces are among the best equipped in the world," an MoD spokeswoman said.
He told the newspaper that the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier programme was the "jewel in the crown of the strategic defence review". Sir Alan, who retired this year, told the newspaper that the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier programme was the "jewel in the crown of the strategic defence review".
He said he had set aside £3.5bn for the project, but warned: "There are officials within the MoD who are casting lascivious looks at [the programme].He said he had set aside £3.5bn for the project, but warned: "There are officials within the MoD who are casting lascivious looks at [the programme].
'Nibbling rats'
"There is no doubt that the rats are out there having a nibble. If Britain wants to remain a world power and to operate with a deal of freedom around the world, these two carriers are vital.""There is no doubt that the rats are out there having a nibble. If Britain wants to remain a world power and to operate with a deal of freedom around the world, these two carriers are vital."
He said reshaping the forces for "anti-terror" campaigns in places like Iraq may risk the UK's long-term security.He said reshaping the forces for "anti-terror" campaigns in places like Iraq may risk the UK's long-term security.
He said it "was a recipe for disaster" for a defence force which may have so much to do in the next 50 years.He said it "was a recipe for disaster" for a defence force which may have so much to do in the next 50 years.
Sir Alan warned that in 10 years' time the threat facing the UK could be something "far more dangerous than terrorism in central Asia". But a spokeswoman for the MoD said the defence budget for 2007-8 would be £3.7bn higher than in 2004-5 in real terms.
"We are using these extra resources to modernise our armed forces to meet the challenges of the 21st Century," she said.
'Frankly shaming'
Sir Alan also warned that in 10 years' time the threat facing the UK could be something "far more dangerous than terrorism in central Asia".
He said that by spending money on running rather than developing the armed forces "all we could be left with is an armed forces that is effectively a gendarmerie.He said that by spending money on running rather than developing the armed forces "all we could be left with is an armed forces that is effectively a gendarmerie.
"And I suppose we would retire to our island and hope that no-one gets to us.""And I suppose we would retire to our island and hope that no-one gets to us."
Sir Alan is the latest senior military figure to speak out about issues affecting the armed forces.Sir Alan is the latest senior military figure to speak out about issues affecting the armed forces.
Head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, and his predecessor, General Sir Mike Jackson, have also voiced concerns. In October, army head Gen Sir Richard Dannatt said in a newspaper interview that the presence of UK troops in Iraq "exacerbates the security problems" and they should "get out some time soon".
And his predecessor Gen Sir Mike Jackson earlier this month criticised the Ministry of Defence's running of the armed forces.