Another decimating cut to our armed forces

A meeting of the UK National Security Council will order a shift in resources and energy in its counter-terrorist strategy away from a sole focus on Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East towards what David Cameron described as a "generational struggle" against al-Qaida-inspired militants in north Africa.

Speaking to parliament the prime minister pledged to make international co-operation to fight terrorism a priority of his chairmanship of the G8 leading economies this year.

Cameron wants to see a new intensity of international co-operation to prevent states such as Mali descending into the chaos of Somalia.

Yet today  the Ministry of Defence announced a third round of Army redundancies.

Up to 5,300 job losses were outlined by the government. These are part of cuts already announced to reduce Army numbers from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2017.

Defence minister Mark Francois said the MoD would ensure it retained the capabilities the Armed Forces required "in order to meet the challenges of the future".

We would beg to differ, the Ministry of Defence is stretched to the limit trying to meet the current demands placed upon it. 

The cuts to both the military and civilian components of defence are resulting in a less agile capability.

We believe it is time to stop the cuts in defence and start valuing both the military and civilian staff who are crucial in delivering defence capability.

Defence Cuts Cost: Capability, Lives and Jobs