Conservatives promise £2.7 billion defence boost
The Conservatives have unveiled new defence proposals, which they say would mean £2.7 billion more spent on defence than Labour.
Among the specific proposals for frontline funding is a commitment that no infantry regiments would be lost.
The Shadow Defence Secretary, Nicholas Soames, has been a vocal opponent of MoD plans to merge some infantry regiments.
The funding for the £2.7 billion commitment comes from £1.6 billion of “back office” savings from the MoD budget, and £1.1 billion of other Whitehall savings, which would be diverted to the frontline.
Savings from the MoD would include a 15 per cent reduction in civilian administrators, a merger of the procurement and logistics operations into a single Defence Logistics Command, and transferring 12 MoD agencies – that the Conservatives claim are inefficient – to the private sector.
Announcing the proposals, Mr Soames, said: “Conservatives will provide the frontline capability we need for our security by cutting bureaucratic waste and by slimming down bloated bureaucracy in other departments.”
“Conservatives will reverse the cuts in our overstretched front line forces announced by the Government and provide for streamlined logistics, efficient equipment procurement and for slimming bureaucracy.
“We will ensure that no infantry regiment is lost. We will reinstate the capabilities lost and sustainability eroded by the Labour defence cuts.”
“A stronger frontline will mean better security for the UK and a better deal for our forces. “
Mr Soames admitted, though, that the armed forces would not be happy with some of the planned cuts.
