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Labour says Johnson is breaking election promise with army reorganisation – UK politics live | Labour says Johnson is breaking election promise with army reorganisation – UK politics live |
(32 minutes later) | |
Latest updates: Labour says PM has broken promise not to cut size of the army after restructuring announced | Latest updates: Labour says PM has broken promise not to cut size of the army after restructuring announced |
This is from General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, who as chief of the general staff is head of the army, on the army restructuring announced today. | |
The army says it is the most radical transformation it has undergone for 20 years. | |
Here is more from Sky’s Deborah Haynes on the army restructuring. | |
During his Commons statement Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, was asked by the Lib Dem MP Jamie Stone if the army restructuring announced today would discourage people from seeking a career in the military. Quite the opposite, argued Wallace, who served as an officer in the Scots Guards in the 1990s. In an response that revealed quite a lot about the motivations of people joining the army, Wallace said: | |
This is what John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, told MPs earlier when he said the army restructuring announced today (see 1.21pm) showed Boris Johnson had broken his election promise not to cut the size of the armed forces. Healey said: | This is what John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, told MPs earlier when he said the army restructuring announced today (see 1.21pm) showed Boris Johnson had broken his election promise not to cut the size of the armed forces. Healey said: |
The Conservative manifesto did not include a promise to maintain the size of the armed forces, but Johnson did make this promise at an event during the election campaign. | The Conservative manifesto did not include a promise to maintain the size of the armed forces, but Johnson did make this promise at an event during the election campaign. |
Healey also said the plan would leave the army too small. He said: | Healey also said the plan would leave the army too small. He said: |
The Ministry of Defence has now published a summary of its “Future Soldier” plan to restructure the army. | The Ministry of Defence has now published a summary of its “Future Soldier” plan to restructure the army. |
And this is what Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, said about it in his opening statement to MPs. | And this is what Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, said about it in his opening statement to MPs. |
In the Commons Priti Patel, the home secretary, has just started making a statement about the deaths of 27 people who drowned trying to cross the Channel in a small boat yesterday. My colleague Damien Gayle is covering what she says in our live blog on the tragedy. | In the Commons Priti Patel, the home secretary, has just started making a statement about the deaths of 27 people who drowned trying to cross the Channel in a small boat yesterday. My colleague Damien Gayle is covering what she says in our live blog on the tragedy. |
HM Revenue and Customs has struck a deal to relocate tax officials into a new office complex in Newcastle owned by major Conservative party donors through an offshore company based in a tax haven, my colleague Harry Davies and Rowena Mason report. | HM Revenue and Customs has struck a deal to relocate tax officials into a new office complex in Newcastle owned by major Conservative party donors through an offshore company based in a tax haven, my colleague Harry Davies and Rowena Mason report. |
According to Sky’s Sam Coates, members of the executive committee of the Conservative 1922 Committee gave the impression they liked what they heard after they left their meeting with Boris Johnson at No 10. (See 12.40pm.) | According to Sky’s Sam Coates, members of the executive committee of the Conservative 1922 Committee gave the impression they liked what they heard after they left their meeting with Boris Johnson at No 10. (See 12.40pm.) |
Nigel Huddleston, the sports minister, told MPs earlier that the government would “work at pace” on setting up an independent regulator for football. He was responding to an urgent question about the fan-led review of football governance led by the former sports minister, Tracey Crouch. | Nigel Huddleston, the sports minister, told MPs earlier that the government would “work at pace” on setting up an independent regulator for football. He was responding to an urgent question about the fan-led review of football governance led by the former sports minister, Tracey Crouch. |
Huddleston said: | Huddleston said: |
But Huddleston also said the government could not “commit 100%” to implementing all the report’s recommendations. | But Huddleston also said the government could not “commit 100%” to implementing all the report’s recommendations. |
The report is here (pdf), and here is my colleague Paul MacInnes’s overnight preview story about it. | The report is here (pdf), and here is my colleague Paul MacInnes’s overnight preview story about it. |
According to Bloomberg’s Kitty Donaldson, Boris Johnson has had a meeting this morning with the executive of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, the shop stewards of the Conservative parliamentary party. It must have been a fascinating meeting, although the 1922 executive are a relatively discreet bunch and so we may learn little about what was actually said. | According to Bloomberg’s Kitty Donaldson, Boris Johnson has had a meeting this morning with the executive of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, the shop stewards of the Conservative parliamentary party. It must have been a fascinating meeting, although the 1922 executive are a relatively discreet bunch and so we may learn little about what was actually said. |
Deborah Haynes, Sky’s defence editor, has more on the Wallace statement. | Deborah Haynes, Sky’s defence editor, has more on the Wallace statement. |
And here is her preview story on the announcement. | And here is her preview story on the announcement. |
Responding for Labour, John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, says today’s announcement contradicts a promise made by Boris Johnson during the 2019 election campaign not to cut the size of the armed forces. | Responding for Labour, John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, says today’s announcement contradicts a promise made by Boris Johnson during the 2019 election campaign not to cut the size of the armed forces. |
Johnson may take his promises lightly, but Labour does not, says Healey. | Johnson may take his promises lightly, but Labour does not, says Healey. |
He says, despite Ben Wallace’s claims, this restructuring is driven by the need to save money. | He says, despite Ben Wallace’s claims, this restructuring is driven by the need to save money. |
He says this plan will leave the British army “too small, too thinly-stretched and too poorly-equipped” to deal with the threats the UK faces. | He says this plan will leave the British army “too small, too thinly-stretched and too poorly-equipped” to deal with the threats the UK faces. |