Admiral blasts MoD as 'desperate funding situation' puts soldiers in danger
Last updated at 22:38pm on 22nd November 2007
Blood on the floor': Admiral Lord Boyce says lives are in danger because of a lack of funds to the military
A former head of the armed services says there will be "blood on the floor" at the Ministry of Defence because of a "desperate funding situation".
Admiral Lord Boyce, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, claimed that servicemen and women are being put in danger because of a shortage of investment in a debate in the Lords.
Amid the alleged "cash crisis" the MoD has also revealed it is short of 4,500 soldiers - the equivalent to an entire brigade - and the number of people resigning is up 10 per cent on last year.
Lord Boyce said that despite Government claims of increased budgets for the forces, funding for the main areas of defence was actually falling.
He said: "The smoke and mirrors work of the Government and in particular the Treasury actually means that the core defence programme has had no effective budget rise at all.
"If we were to cut to the truth, we would find it was actually negative - especially if one subtracts the £550m to be spent on the slum accommodation that should have been replaced years ago.
Gordon Gentle was killed because of Army communications 'chaos' said Coroner
"And this negative budget is why if you go to the Ministry of Defence today you will find blood on the floor as the defence programme is slashed to meet the desperate funding situation."
His comments come just weeks after a coroner blamed the Army's "chaotic" supply chain for the death of a young fusilier in Iraq.
Gordon Gentle, 19, from Glasgow, was killed when a roadside bomb blasted his Landrover in June 2004. He served with the Royal Highland Fusiliers and had only been in Iraq for a month.
Vital bomb jamming devices had been delivered two weeks earlier but news of the equipment's arrival did not filter through in time to save his life.
Coroner Selena Lynch said both the Royal Highland Fusiliers and the logistics unit involved were to blame.
Lord Boyce, who was one of five former chiefs of the defence staff to speak in the Lords debate, said the armed forces deserved better from the Government.
He told peers: "We are seriously endangering our people because of the lack of money being given to equip, train and properly support those in the second line preparing to rotate to the frontline.
"Not least because those units have been robbed of the equipment needed to train on so it can furnish those already in the frontline."
Lord Boyce, who was First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff for 13 years, said he was particularly concerned about the state of the Royal Navy.
He added: "This Government has only ordered eight warships since 1997 of which only four were destroyers and frigates.
"In the same time 57 have been disposed of - of which 13 were destroyers and frigates, the work horses of the fleet."
Incidentally, Gordon Gentle RIP, was a member of my Regiment, Royal Highland Fusiliers.
Last updated at 22:38pm on 22nd November 2007
Blood on the floor': Admiral Lord Boyce says lives are in danger because of a lack of funds to the military
A former head of the armed services says there will be "blood on the floor" at the Ministry of Defence because of a "desperate funding situation".
Admiral Lord Boyce, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, claimed that servicemen and women are being put in danger because of a shortage of investment in a debate in the Lords.
Amid the alleged "cash crisis" the MoD has also revealed it is short of 4,500 soldiers - the equivalent to an entire brigade - and the number of people resigning is up 10 per cent on last year.
Lord Boyce said that despite Government claims of increased budgets for the forces, funding for the main areas of defence was actually falling.
He said: "The smoke and mirrors work of the Government and in particular the Treasury actually means that the core defence programme has had no effective budget rise at all.
"If we were to cut to the truth, we would find it was actually negative - especially if one subtracts the £550m to be spent on the slum accommodation that should have been replaced years ago.
Gordon Gentle was killed because of Army communications 'chaos' said Coroner
"And this negative budget is why if you go to the Ministry of Defence today you will find blood on the floor as the defence programme is slashed to meet the desperate funding situation."
His comments come just weeks after a coroner blamed the Army's "chaotic" supply chain for the death of a young fusilier in Iraq.
Gordon Gentle, 19, from Glasgow, was killed when a roadside bomb blasted his Landrover in June 2004. He served with the Royal Highland Fusiliers and had only been in Iraq for a month.
Vital bomb jamming devices had been delivered two weeks earlier but news of the equipment's arrival did not filter through in time to save his life.
Coroner Selena Lynch said both the Royal Highland Fusiliers and the logistics unit involved were to blame.
Lord Boyce, who was one of five former chiefs of the defence staff to speak in the Lords debate, said the armed forces deserved better from the Government.
He told peers: "We are seriously endangering our people because of the lack of money being given to equip, train and properly support those in the second line preparing to rotate to the frontline.
"Not least because those units have been robbed of the equipment needed to train on so it can furnish those already in the frontline."
Lord Boyce, who was First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff for 13 years, said he was particularly concerned about the state of the Royal Navy.
He added: "This Government has only ordered eight warships since 1997 of which only four were destroyers and frigates.
"In the same time 57 have been disposed of - of which 13 were destroyers and frigates, the work horses of the fleet."
Incidentally, Gordon Gentle RIP, was a member of my Regiment, Royal Highland Fusiliers.