Chief of the Defence Staff admits Britain will be forced to ‘scale back’ military capabilities without extra cash

The Chief of the Defence Staff has admitted that the Armed Forces will be forced to “scale back” training and operations if more funding is not made available. Speaking to the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee today, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said he was most concerned about the “level of day-to-day activity funding” of Britain's military. The military chief was appearing before members of the upper chamber as the Labour Government prepares to publish its long-delayed Defence Investment Plan. His appearance came as former Defence Secretary John Healey and ex-Armed Forces Minister Al Carns resigned in protest of the measures in the upcoming document, which they considered insufficent. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say “You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,” Mr Healey said to the Prime Minister in his explosive resignation letter. “I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our forces the resources they need,” he added. While appearing before the committee today, the Air Chief Marshal was asked: “Do you agree with what John Healey said? Will it lead to reductions in operational capabilities?”“The thing that I am most concerned about is the level of day-to-day activity funding, he explained, adding that funding would be needed in the “resource departmental expenditure limit because that drives operational funds.“Operational activity drives, exercises and training, Sir Richard admitted. And those are the things that make sure our men and women of our Armed Forces are as ready as they can be with the equipment they have got.“Without changes to the supplement, as John Healy set out, then those areas will come under pressure.He was then asked: “So, you mean in some of these areas that we will have to reduce the capabilities that we have?”“We will have to dial back our activities and our exercise and operational activity if the level of resource funding that is available to us does not increase now.”LATEST DEVELOPMENTSJohn Healey to deliver resignation speech as Keir Starmer refuses to budge over defence spendingMinisters plead with Donald Trump not to attack Keir Starmer for 'police state' internet clampdown‘Welfare is his number one priority,’ Kemi Badenoch gives brutal Keir Starmer verdict to GB NewsThe Chief of Defence Staff then delved into how price shocks had fundamentally changed the way the Armed Forces use their funds. He revealed that soaring fuel prices, rising 88 per cent since Covid, and other pressures had forced the MoD to spend more and more on resources like fuel. Sir Richard projected that by the early 2030s, capital expenditure would equal operational expenditure. “The significant increases we have had in defence spending over the last few years, which, of course, are positive and welcome. They have largely been in capital.”“All of that puts pressure on us, and the levers that we have to pull to reduce that expenditure are principally around our activities. This means exercises, training and operations.”Addressing the upcoming DIP again, he said: “It would be disingenuous of me to suggest that there, there is going to be no impact as a consequence of the settlement.”However, he stressed that: “The Prime Minister is committed to reviewing that situation in the spending review, and we will continue to. “I will continue to make a clear and robust case for what I think the Armed Forces need in order to be ready to do what the government asks of them.” Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter