Forces in Afghanistan at risk under ConDem plans to slash deficit
Dr Liam Fox, has warned that “draconian” cuts of 10% to the defence budget at a time of war could precipitate a “brutal reaction” from the party, the media and the military, and have “grave political consequences”.
In a private letter to Cameron – now leaked to The Torygraph – he goes on to say that “Frankly, this process is looking less and less defensible as a proper SDSR (Strategic Defence and Security Review) and more like a “super CSR” (Comprehensive Spending Review)”
Clearly not mincing his words, Fox warns that cuts to the tune of £4billion are “financially and intellectually virtually impossible” and “will limit severely the options available to this and all future governments”.
The scale of the cuts would see tens of thousands of job losses that will “seriously damage morale across the Armed Forces” and create a “period of major challenge (and, in all probability, significant casualties) in Afghanistan”, he says.
With relations already strained between Fox and his paymasters at No.10 and No.11, the signs are that the defence secretary himself could be setting himself up to be an early casualty of the ConDem cuts…