Armed Forces to shed more than 4,000 personnel including 400 Gurkhas

The Ministry of Defence confirmed yesterday that 400 Gurkhas will be among up to 2,900 members of the Army who face redundancy, along with 1,000 members of the Royal Air Force and 300 members of the Royal Navy.

The job losses form the second tranche of the redundancy programme set out in the Government’s Strategic Defence Review, designed to help plug the £38bn black hole in the defence budget.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond insisted he had “no choice” but to axe jobs, although he insisted the forces would remain “agile”.

He said: “Difficult decisions had to be taken to deal with the vast black hole in the MoD budget.”

But actress Joanna Lumley, a leading campaigner on Gurkhas’ rights, warned compulsory redundancies would be a “tragedy”.

“I know the Government is wrestling with enormous financial worries,” she said.

“However, I would urge it to bear in mind the fantastic service given by all members of the Armed Forces, including the Gurkhas.”

The redundancies will be the last “major” wave of job losses for the Navy and the RAF, officials said.

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