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Military funding comes under fire Military funding comes under fire
(2 days later)
A former defence chief has renewed pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to address the "huge imbalance" between funding and military deployment.A former defence chief has renewed pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to address the "huge imbalance" between funding and military deployment.
Admiral Lord Boyce said Mr Brown should recognise that the armed forces are over-committed and ensure that they are properly resourced.Admiral Lord Boyce said Mr Brown should recognise that the armed forces are over-committed and ensure that they are properly resourced.
Lord Boyce made the comments in the Kent on Sunday newspaper.Lord Boyce made the comments in the Kent on Sunday newspaper.
But the Ministry of Defence defended spending on the military, saying it was growing in real terms.But the Ministry of Defence defended spending on the military, saying it was growing in real terms.
An MoD spokesman told the Press Association news agency: "The government's recent Comprehensive Spending Review settlement gives 1.5% average annual real growth in the defence budget."An MoD spokesman told the Press Association news agency: "The government's recent Comprehensive Spending Review settlement gives 1.5% average annual real growth in the defence budget."
"In real terms, by 2010/11 it will be over £3bn or 11% higher than in 1997," the spokesman added."In real terms, by 2010/11 it will be over £3bn or 11% higher than in 1997," the spokesman added.
'Contempt''Contempt'
But military spending is not the Admiral's only gripe.But military spending is not the Admiral's only gripe.
Lord Boyce was one of five former defence chiefs who accused the government of treating the armed services with "contempt" during a House of Lords debate last month, describing the decision to make Des Browne Scottish secretary as well as defence secretary as an "insult" to forces.Lord Boyce was one of five former defence chiefs who accused the government of treating the armed services with "contempt" during a House of Lords debate last month, describing the decision to make Des Browne Scottish secretary as well as defence secretary as an "insult" to forces.
The defence slice of the country's budget has got smaller over the last years. As that's gone down, our levels of activity have gone up and there's clearly a huge imbalance. Lord BoyceThe defence slice of the country's budget has got smaller over the last years. As that's gone down, our levels of activity have gone up and there's clearly a huge imbalance. Lord Boyce
Speaking to the Kent on Sunday newspaper, Lord Boyce returned to the subject and said the decision not to have a full-time defence secretary was viewed by troops as showing a "complete lack of judgment".Speaking to the Kent on Sunday newspaper, Lord Boyce returned to the subject and said the decision not to have a full-time defence secretary was viewed by troops as showing a "complete lack of judgment".
"That's felt very strongly in particular by the people who are fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said."That's felt very strongly in particular by the people who are fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said.
"Their lives are in danger, they see some of their friends being killed or maimed and they look to the top and they see a person who's only part-time.""Their lives are in danger, they see some of their friends being killed or maimed and they look to the top and they see a person who's only part-time."
On funding, Lord Boyce said: "The defence slice of the country's budget has got smaller over the last years.On funding, Lord Boyce said: "The defence slice of the country's budget has got smaller over the last years.
"As that's gone down, our levels of activity have gone up and there's clearly a huge imbalance.""As that's gone down, our levels of activity have gone up and there's clearly a huge imbalance."
Lord Boyce added: "What [Mr Brown] needs to do is recognise the fact that at the moment the forces are over-committed and he needs to make sure they're properly resourced.Lord Boyce added: "What [Mr Brown] needs to do is recognise the fact that at the moment the forces are over-committed and he needs to make sure they're properly resourced.
"Somehow that message has got to be drilled in.""Somehow that message has got to be drilled in."
And he voiced concern that the war in Afghanistan would be lost unless other European countries sent reinforcements to support Britain's soldiers.And he voiced concern that the war in Afghanistan would be lost unless other European countries sent reinforcements to support Britain's soldiers.
"Some of the big countries in Nato are failing to step up to the line and provide troops in the more dangerous areas, which I find to be extraordinary and actually somewhat unacceptable."Some of the big countries in Nato are failing to step up to the line and provide troops in the more dangerous areas, which I find to be extraordinary and actually somewhat unacceptable.
"The campaign will only be winnable providing there is commitment from the alliance to put sufficient manpower in.""The campaign will only be winnable providing there is commitment from the alliance to put sufficient manpower in."