Defence Community in Turmoil

Expressing anger at the defence cuts announced by the Government on Wednesday 21st July, Salisbury MP Robert Key said, “On Tuesday 6th July I challenged the Prime Minister in the Commons to justify rumours of defence cuts. He replied, “I do not think we will be cutting defence spending at all”. When the Prime Minister said that, he knew they would be scrapping ships, aircraft, guns, service men and women and ten thousand civil servants. Here in South Wiltshire the impact will be very serious.

“The truth is that this Labour Government which has depended so much on HM Forces for its international image and public profile, will now end our regimental system, cut four battalions of infantry, re-roll a royal artillery AS90 heavy gun regiment, review the future of Boscombe Down Airfield and decimate the civilian workforce.

“The Army, Navy and Royal Air Force have been forced to accept these changes. We could well lose our historic County Regiment forever. The Prince of Wales’ Division is now officially in consultation about how to cut three regiments.

“I pledge to fight to save the Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and I will fight to save the civil service jobs we really need to support the finest Forces in world”.