Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
Old British regiments about to get the chop, and replaced with mercenary's
We may see Miss Lumley, high jacking politicians in the street again
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
flesh on the bones please keith.
where did you read/hear it and which regiments?
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
good or bad ,howard
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
First of all lets make it clear that I do not support any Defence cuts and this is the only budget that should not be cut and should be in line for increases as soon as possible, These cuts should not be made.
But Keith - you have misrepresented and drastically over simplified what is happening. I have no time now to go into details as I am off in 10 mins but a Google should show up details to anyone interested. I would suggest looking at serious news organisations or sources though, not left wing rags like the Grauniad or Mirror, or indeed their opposites on the right.
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
Maybe a step closer for an EU army
Snippet of the web
The radical shake-up, which will see the Army shrink from around 100,000 to 82,000 soldiers by the end of 2020, was due to be announced this week.
The cuts were due to be reviewed and "signed off" by the Prime Minister before details were unveiled in the House of Commons.
But the announcement has been delayed until after the Whitsun Parliamentary recess to "take the heat" out of the controversial policy.
Under the plans, known as Future Force 2020, some of the Army's most historic names - such as the Black Watch and the Queen's Dragoon Guards - could be amalgamated or axed.
Leaked details of the proposals have already lead to a public outcry in Scotland and Wales, with MPs urging the government not to axe regiments in their regions.
It is understood that between two and 11 infantry regiments could go, with the axe falling heaviest on those with long-term recruitment problems.
Dozens of other artillery, engineer and logistic units will also be axed or merge over the next few years.
Details of the cuts come at a difficult time for the Government's position on defence.
Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary this month announced an embarrassing U-turn in the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier programme, reverting to plans drawn up under Labour for the ships to carry "jump-jet" versions of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters instead of ones launched by catapult.
The Future Force 2020 plans have been drawn up by a team of just six high ranking officers led by Lieutenant General Nick Carter in a desperate bid to maintain secrecy.
The imminent publication of Future Force 2020 has already lead to some behind the scenes manoeuvring by various within the Army and open lobbying from outside to ensure the survival of individual regiments.
Owen Smith, the Shadow Welsh Secretary, last week wrote to Cheryl Gillan, the Welsh Secretary, urging the Government to reconsider any decision to abolish the QDG, saying it would be "a massive blow to Wales".
In Scotland Angus Robertson, the defence spokesman for the SNP, described any attempt by Westminster to reduce the number of Scottish regiments as a "shocking betrayal".
Mr Hammond has already stated that the regiments likely to be axed are those that failed to recruit in the UK and relied heavily on troops from Fiji, the Caribbean and the Commonwealth, a view widely seen as an attack on the Scottish regiments.
However, public criticism of the government's plans in Scotland forced the government to reassert that no "infantry cap badges" would be lost.
The axe will fall heaviest on support units, leading to concerns that it will leave the Services "unbalanced".
Among those facing steep reductions in numbers are the Corps of Royal Engineers, Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Artillery.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,904
Keith, I think Howard means the site that your "snippet of the web" comes from, it might make a difference if they have a political agenda of some kind.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
Jan dear, it's all over the web and the national news channels
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
managed to track this down as keith will not reveal his source.
http://news.sky.com/home/video/uk-news/video/16242869Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
The real meat on the bones here is that many of the "trade" services/corps will be replaced either by civilian contractors or more often by TA specialists; this move is a direct result of experience since Kosovo and will make a significant difference to military costs and also effectiveness. Experience has shown that TA Medical teams particularly trauma and A&E teams have significantly increased survival rates for wounded personnel and much of what they have learnt has also been fed back to civilian hospitals. Logistics, with the general exception of ordnance, is more cheaply and better handled by civilian logistics companies such as Eddie Stobart etc.
The upshot is that much more of the defence budget will be spent on front line troops and materials ensuring our service personnel get the best equipment etc.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
Post number 4.... "I would suggest looking at serious news organisations or sources though, not left wing rags like the Grauniad or Mirror, or indeed their opposites on the right."
You mean conservativehome eh? That bastion of received wisdom much beloved by the tory lobby fodder.
Or perhaps the Daily Mail? The Independent? Can you tell us all what you mean by "their opposites on the right"?
I was under the impression you were a right wing tory Barry.
I think your'll find that where this is all heading is some kind of pan-european defence force. Funny that eh? Pushed forward by a conservative government. But, but, but I was told that Cameron was a eurosceptic. Oh hang on, we can blame it on the coalition.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,904
#7
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
The conservative party - otherwise known as the political wing of greenpeace and the world wildlife fund. What do you expect?
These cuts are just the start.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
You do go so over the top Philip, absurdly so in just about every respect.
My point is that different news organisations have their own agenda and while my own views are closer to the right wing press my reading early yesterday about this was showing up distortions on both sides. This is too important a subject for that.
