Cash crunch will stop Forces doing their job, says ex-Army chief

The former head of the Army has warned that the Armed Forces are facing a cash "crisis" - reports the Daily Telegraph.

The news comes as, just two days ago, MPs voted to approve the government's pledge of an extra £7bn to the EU's budget, despite last week's revelation that the EU Court of Auditors has been unable to verify the "majority" of the EU's spending for the 13th year in a row.

Gen Sir Mike Jackson said recent spending commitments by the Chancellor were likely to prove insufficient to ensure the country's "national insurance policy", raising doubts over whether the military will be able to pay for future operations or major equipment projects.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "I detect, I fear, some crisis ahead in defence spending, if things go on as they are in terms of what we do, what we might have to do and the money allocated"

He hinted that there might be bad news ahead for one of the military's main procurement projects, such as new destroyers or submarines.

Since resigning, Sir Mike has also criticised the MoD's treatment of soldiers, particularly the standards of pay and living accommodation.

The MoD is currently battling with the Treasury over funding of equipment projects and "urgent operational requirements" of kit needed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There are also worries that without proper funding the military is going to continue to lose substantial numbers of troops who are fed up with poor pay, accommodation and constant operations.

MPs need to think again about whether gifting the EU billions of pounds extra is either affordable or justifiable while a "majority" of its spending cannot be verified, in advance of the Third Reading of the European Communities (Finance) Bill.

Those who vote for such large-scale waste of public funds will then have to bear personal responsibility for the consequences of shortfalls of funds elsewhere, many examples of which are already in evidence.