Britain sleepwalking into defence cuts says ex-Army MP

One of Yorkshire’s most high-profile ex-soldiers has warned that Britain is “sleepwalking” into a vastly-reduced military role, unable to intervene abroad as it has in the past or to defend distant lands such as the Falklands.

Labour MP Dan Jarvis, a former army Major who led troops in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq and Sierra Leone before standing for election in Barnsley Central, said there is still “genuine anger” within the Armed Forces over swingeing cuts to the Defence budget following the Government’s strategic defence review of 2010.

In a wide-ranging interview to mark the first anniversary of his election to Parliament, Mr Jarvis – who lost his wife Caroline to cancer in 2010 – reveals his joy that his new partner is now pregnant. The MP, promoted by Ed Miliband to Shadow Culture Minister just six months after being elected, also hits out at the Government over its lack of support for the British tourism industry.

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But his strongest words are saved for the Coalition’s decision to slash defence spending.

“The reality is our ability to leverage military force is being greatly undermined,” he said. “I would have a lot more respect for the Government’s position if they would come clean on that.

“There’s this ridiculous argument that there are all these efficiencies, and we can continue to contribute in the way that we have done before. It’s just not true.

“The reality is that if the Argentinians, heaven forbid, got onto the Falkland Islands, we are not in a position to re-take them. If that’s a conscious decision that the country has made, then that’s one thing – but it isn’t.

“We are sleepwalking into a period of strategic shrinkage.

“We should be under no illusions. These are significant reductions in the size, shape and capability (of our forces) – and we will be able to do less at the end of it.”

Fighting Talk: Page 6.