David Cameron yesterday launched a major review of defence and security amid warnings that Britain’s spy agencies may face cuts to fund Tory pledges to protect the armed forces.
The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, which will define the future shape, size and role of the military when it reports in the autumn, was activated at a national security council meeting yesterday morning, Whitehall sources revealed.
The study, overseen by the Cabinet Office, comes five years after the last such body of work hit the armed forces hard, with the loss of tens of thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen and the shedding of critical kit, such as warships and maritime patrol aircraft, to save money.
This time, analysts predict that cost-saving will be