UK forces face operational cuts without more cash, defence chief warns

UK forces face operational cuts without more cash, defence chief warns 3 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Brian Wheeler Political reporter PA Media Sir Richard Knighton was put in charge of UK forces last September The UK's armed forces will have to "dial back" training and operations if they do not receive more cash than is currently being offered, the chief of the defence staff has warned. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said the government's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) did not include enough funding to support "day-to-day activities" in the short term. John Healey resigned as defence secretary last week, claiming the proposed cash settlement "would reduce the readiness of our Forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations". In a Commons statement earlier on Tuesday, he said his resignation had been "necessary in securing the future of Britain's armed forces and our alliances". "My decision last week was about our country, not career," he told MPs. And in a swipe at Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whom he has said was "unwilling" to provide adequate funds to meet the threats facing the nation, he warned that "our adversaries do not follow timetables set by the Treasury". The government has committed to increasing defence spending to 3.5% of national income by 2035, in line with allies in the Nato military alliance. The DIP was due to be published last week but has been delayed further following Healey's resignation. Healy has said No 10 and the Treasury were prepared to commit around £10bn in additional funding over the next four years, around £18bn less than what military chiefs have reportedly asked for. New defence secretary Dan Jarvis is currently reviewing how the money will be spent - but there has been no suggestion from No 10 that extra cash will be found. Healey says the UK needs to be spending 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2030. Watch: Healey says government spending plans for armed forces fall 'well short' In his Commons resignation statement, he told MPs: "At this dangerous time, I see the current defence investment plans falling well short of what is required, a rise at 0.08% from next year to 2030, no date for reaching 3%, no path to 3.5%. "By 2030, well over half of Nato members will be spending 3% or more. And when allies are looking for British leadership, we must not fall behind." In his scathing resignation letter last week , Healey warned that the 10-year DIP plan "backloaded" spending increases, when the need "to speed up readiness to fight is in the first two years". Sir Richard Knighton echoed Healey's concerns in evidence to the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee on Tuesday morning. "The thing that I'm most concerned about is the level of day-to-day activity funding, the resource departmental expenditure limit, because that funds operational activity and drives exercises and training," he told peers. "Those are the things that make sure the men and women of o