Labor warns they ‘know nothing about British history’ as Amy eases fears | Politics | News

A senior defense analyst has warned Labor that a reported decision to further reduce the size of the British Army shows the person making the call “knows nothing about UK defense or UK history”.

A Strategic Defense Review of the country’s armed forces is currently underway as war intensifies in both regions. Ukrainian and the Middle East.

The review is expected to report back with recommendations to the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Minister of Defense in the first half of 2025.

Budget Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised an extra £3bn of cash for the entire armed forces, but stopped short of putting a timetable for the 2.5% of GDP spending on defense promised in Labour’s manifesto.

Britain’s fully trained ground troops number around 75,300, according to the latest figures in April 2024; this number is lower than the Ministry of Defense’s own estimate of 80,000 British soldiers fighting against Napoleon in the 19th century.

Defense analyst Nicholas Drummond has revealed that a source told him the British Army could become even smaller. Sharing the news on

“It is clear that the person who suggested this knows nothing about UK defense or UK history.”

Worryingly, Labour’s Defense Secretary John Healey admitted the UK’s combat forces were not “ready to fight” a war.

Mr Healey told Politico that Britain had become “very capable and ready to conduct military operations” but needed to be “fight ready” to deter other countries.

Asked about comments by Army Chief General Sir Roly Walker that the UK should be ready for war within three years, Mr Healey said: “The UK, like many other countries, has actually become very capable and ready to conduct military operations.”

“What we are not prepared to do is fight. And unless we are ready to fight, we are in no position to deter.”

This, he added, was “at the core” of thinking within NATO.

“We need to not only have the ability to defend our NATO nations, but more importantly, we need to be more effective in the deterrence we can provide against any future attack,” the Secretary of Defense told Politico’s Power Play podcast.

“Our forces need to be able to innovate. We need to be able to learn new technologies and some lessons. Ukrainian “We make what we do more lethal and therefore a stronger deterrent.”

Last month, Britain and Germany signed a defense agreement aimed at closer cooperation in the face of a growing threat. Russia.

According to the agreement, German submarine hunting planes will fly from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, and arms giant Rheinmetall is preparing to open a factory producing cannon barrels using British steel.

A Government spokesman said: “This government will always do what is necessary to defend the country. The UK’s armed forces are among the best in the world and offer 24/7 defense of the UK, working with our Allies and partners to prepare for any possible attack . activity.

“The Strategic Defense Review will look at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to make our armed forces more combat-ready, more integrated and more innovative.”

Express.co.uk has contacted the Department of Labor and Defense for comment.