Defence chief attacks Armed Forces cuts

General Sir David Richards said he was worried that the Royal Navy did not have enough warships to fulfil its orders properly, and warned that cuts in the number of officers would reduce Britain’s world influence.

In a public lecture, Sir David said that ministers had cut the Armed Forces’ numbers and resources without reducing their demands for operations.

“We have a whole load of tasks expected of us. Our political masters are quite happy to reduce the size of the Armed Forces, but their appetite to exercise influence on the world stage is, quite understandably, the same as it has always been.

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