Government's gone AWOL on ensuring our country is safe

THE defence of this country should be the number one priority of any government yet our armed forces are in a perilously dangerous state.

- Duncan Barkes

British troops, pictured during a training exercise, could soon be fighting for real

We have reached crisis point because successive governments have not done enough to ensure the nation boasts a well-resourced military capability that is able to counter any threat in these ever changing geopolitical times.

It is not only dangerous but utterly absurd that the amount we're paying in interest on our national debt dwarfs the UK defence budget almost twofold. Debt interest currently stands at £110.4billion, whilst the defence budget sits at £62.2bn.

And whilst Labour continues to scratch around to pay off our ballooning debt interest, the armed forces are in desperate need of more immediate funds, strategic future investment and politicians not scared to fly the flag for the nation’s defence.

This is by no means a criticism of those that currently serve in the Army, Navy or Air Force and who are prepared to fight to defend this country.

These men and women deserve all our gratitude. But there is something fundamentally wrong when you can fit the entire full-time British Army into Twickenham Stadium.

No wonder former and current senior defence chiefs are speaking out.