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| General Sir Nick Houghton to be new chief of defence staff | General Sir Nick Houghton to be new chief of defence staff |
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| A battle-hardened army commander who has recently earned a reputation as a "Whitehall warrior" is expected to be named on Tuesday as the new chief of defence staff at a time when the armed forces are continuing a painful and prolonged period of cuts. | A battle-hardened army commander who has recently earned a reputation as a "Whitehall warrior" is expected to be named on Tuesday as the new chief of defence staff at a time when the armed forces are continuing a painful and prolonged period of cuts. |
| General Sir Nick Houghton will replace General Sir David Richards, who is said to have declined Downing Street's invitation to stay on beyond the normal three-year spell in the job. | General Sir Nick Houghton will replace General Sir David Richards, who is said to have declined Downing Street's invitation to stay on beyond the normal three-year spell in the job. |
| It means Houghton, 58, will be in charge as the army shrinks by a fifth to 82,000, and oversee the withdrawal of British combat forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. | It means Houghton, 58, will be in charge as the army shrinks by a fifth to 82,000, and oversee the withdrawal of British combat forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. |
| It is unusual for two defence chiefs to be appointed consecutively from the same branch of the forces, in this case the army. | It is unusual for two defence chiefs to be appointed consecutively from the same branch of the forces, in this case the army. |
| Houghton's in-tray will include thorny equipment issues, including whether the defence budget can afford the two large aircraft carriers being built for the navy, and how many US-made Joint Strike Fighters it can afford to put on them. | Houghton's in-tray will include thorny equipment issues, including whether the defence budget can afford the two large aircraft carriers being built for the navy, and how many US-made Joint Strike Fighters it can afford to put on them. |
| These decisions will come against a backdrop of a budget squeeze that has caused barely concealed fury among senior officers. He has also put his weight behind a plan to increase the numbers and quality of the reserves – planned to total 30,000 – to help fill the gap left by cuts in the regular army. Many analysts believe the plan to be hopelessly optimistic. | These decisions will come against a backdrop of a budget squeeze that has caused barely concealed fury among senior officers. He has also put his weight behind a plan to increase the numbers and quality of the reserves – planned to total 30,000 – to help fill the gap left by cuts in the regular army. Many analysts believe the plan to be hopelessly optimistic. |
| As the senior British military officer in Baghdad, Houghton was responsible for devising the strategy to withdraw 8,000 British troops from southern Iraq. The hasty political decision to deploy thousands of British troops to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan in 2006 at a time when the army was not ready and its equipment was inadequate, led to strained relations with ministers, including Tony Blair, whose upbeat assessments of progress appeared to be contradicted by the military. | As the senior British military officer in Baghdad, Houghton was responsible for devising the strategy to withdraw 8,000 British troops from southern Iraq. The hasty political decision to deploy thousands of British troops to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan in 2006 at a time when the army was not ready and its equipment was inadequate, led to strained relations with ministers, including Tony Blair, whose upbeat assessments of progress appeared to be contradicted by the military. |
| In 2011, he argued that the Ministry of Defence had to share the pain as the country tried to claw its way out of recession. "We will be weak in defence if we are not strong on the economy," he said. "There is a necessary requirement to cut one's cloth in the meantime so we don't overstretch ourselves." | In 2011, he argued that the Ministry of Defence had to share the pain as the country tried to claw its way out of recession. "We will be weak in defence if we are not strong on the economy," he said. "There is a necessary requirement to cut one's cloth in the meantime so we don't overstretch ourselves." |
| Those who know Houghton say he will not "shoot from the lip", as some senior officers have tended to do recently. Born in Otley, West Yorkshire, he is regarded as straight-talking and unpompous. He is also politically astute. "When he says something, he intends for it to have an impact," said a source. "He doesn't make things up on the hoof." | Those who know Houghton say he will not "shoot from the lip", as some senior officers have tended to do recently. Born in Otley, West Yorkshire, he is regarded as straight-talking and unpompous. He is also politically astute. "When he says something, he intends for it to have an impact," said a source. "He doesn't make things up on the hoof." |
| An Oxford graduate, Houghton commanded 1st Battalion The Green Howards and commanded an infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland from 1997 to 1999. He became Richards' deputy three years ago. | An Oxford graduate, Houghton commanded 1st Battalion The Green Howards and commanded an infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland from 1997 to 1999. He became Richards' deputy three years ago. |
| His successor as Vice Chief has been named as Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, a former fighter pilot and experienced operational commander. Houghton's appointment will complete a reshuffle at the top of the military. Admiral Sir George Zambellas, will take over from Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope as First Sea Lord – head of the navy – next month, while Air Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, a former helicopter pilot, will replace Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton as head of the RAF in July. The new head of the army is expected to be named as Lieutenant General Nick Carter, who is currently serving as the deputy commander of Nato-led forces in Afghanistan. | His successor as Vice Chief has been named as Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, a former fighter pilot and experienced operational commander. Houghton's appointment will complete a reshuffle at the top of the military. Admiral Sir George Zambellas, will take over from Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope as First Sea Lord – head of the navy – next month, while Air Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, a former helicopter pilot, will replace Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton as head of the RAF in July. The new head of the army is expected to be named as Lieutenant General Nick Carter, who is currently serving as the deputy commander of Nato-led forces in Afghanistan. |
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