Essex: MP Says Government In 'Cuckoo Land' Over Army Reforms

17 October 2013, 00:01

MP for Basildon and Billericay says the Government are trying to get 'defence on the cheap'.

An Essex MP has accused the Government of trying to "get Defence on the cheap" with its proposed army reforms.

Ministers want to cut the number of full-time soldiers by 20,000 and replace them with 30,000 reservists as a way of saving money. 

MPs will debate the plans in the House of Commons later. 

MP for Basildon and Billericay, John Baron, has told Heart the Government needs to think again: "In this modern day wheer the threat can come from both the state and individual terrorist groups our forces must be agile, they must be mobile and they must utterly professional. 

"Suggesting 30,000 reservists can plug the gap left by 20,000 regulars is living in dream cuckoo land. 

"There is an awful lot of evidence to now say 'look, these plans are going wrong'. 

"TA numbers are down, reserve recruitment targets are being missed, costs are going up, charities coming in and saying there's a ticking time bomb with regards mental health issues with reservists, ex-military chiefs saying it's going wrong." 

He's calling for the Government to put the plans on hold until it is established the Army Reserve plan is viable and cost-effective.