John Healey - Minister of Defence announces cuts across the three Services

[TIGHTCHOKE]

WOW!

Here we go, lets get rid of much of our capability;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2k0292v0w1o

The equipment being scrapped is:

Two amphibious assault ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark

A Type 23 frigate, HMS Northumberland, which was in refit but has now been ruled as uneconomical due to structural damage discovered during repairs

Two tankers, RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler

Watchkeeper WK450 Mk1 drones

Fourteen CH-47 Chinook helicopters, the oldest Chinooks currently being used by the UK

Seventeen Puma helicopters, which were first introduced over 50 years ago

Edited November 20 by TIGHTCHOKE
SYNTAX

[oowee]

I hope we don't rely on that crock of old carp. It would be great if we can get on the new wave of EU spending for replacement armaments (keep it in the family).

[LeadWasp]

Capability gap - relying on equipment yet to enter service.

(and also relying on the fleet auxiliary to do naval tasks when they've been on a pay freeze since 2010 and folk are understandably leaving)

Edited November 20 by LeadWasp

[welsh1]

And here we go again, a labour goverment cutting forces equipment, with no immediate plans in the pipeline to replace them,and when they do finally decide it will be many many years down the line for new equipment to come into service, some of the cuts will make the RM's struggle to deploy in numbers.
Short sighted idiocy at a time when the armed forces should be having equipment given to them.

I note that they want to increase recruiting as well, that is simple get rid of capita and bring back the recruitment centres.Capita are as much use as a chocolate fire guard.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

But who would join up now?

Underfunded, under appreciated, and under staffed.

[Yellow Bear]

well then one might say -------"Quelle surprise"

[oowee]

15 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

But who would join up now?

Underfunded, under appreciated, and under staffed.

Are forces are not fit for purpose and yet we moan about tax increases and fuel allowance savings. We need to rethink priorities. How we expect to defend ourselves against Russia without increasing taxes is beyond me. When is the next armed forces review? Hopeless. 

The pay for a Royal Navy rating depends on their rank and experience, and can vary based on their job and location: 

Basic training: Starts at £16,235, increasing to £20,000 after 26 weeks 

Able Rating: Starts at £20,000 

Leading Rating: Starts at £32,796 

Petty Officer: Starts at £37,061 

Warrant Officer: Starts at £50,838 

Commissioned Officer: Starts at £110,000+ 

[Gordon R]

Quote

Are forces are not fit for purpose and yet we moan about tax increases and fuel allowance savings. We need to rethink priorities

We certainly do. Cut the budget for our services whilst throwing money away on foreign aid and taking the world lead on the lunacy of net zero. You couldn't make it up. Totally and utterly clueless.

[old man]

6 minutes ago, Gordon R said:

We certainly do. Cut the budget for our services whilst throwing money away on foreign aid and taking the world lead on the lunacy of net zero. You couldn't make it up. Totally and utterly clueless.

Gordon, sadly not because of being clueless. May be more by design?

[8 shot]

Not to worry....the train driver will step up they earn more than a Navy Warrant Officer

9 minutes ago, Gordon R said:

We need to rethink priorities

 

[Agriv8]

It’s ok it not like we have just poked a Russian Bear is it !

oh wait yes we have haven’t we. 

Agriv8

[12gauge82]

Don't forget the billions a year we now pay for migrant Hotels. 

[bruno22rf]

57 minutes ago, Gordon R said:

We certainly do. Cut the budget for our services whilst throwing money away on foreign aid and taking the world lead on the lunacy of net zero. You couldn't make it up. Totally and utterly clueless.

Just about sums it up, but let's do what we British always do - bend over and take it.

[Weihrauch17]

58 minutes ago, Gordon R said:

We certainly do. Cut the budget for our services whilst throwing money away on foreign aid and taking the world lead on the lunacy of net zero. You couldn't make it up. Totally and utterly clueless.

On the very day Ukraine starts launching Storm Shadows into Russia, quite unbelievable the message this sends to our enemies.

[oowee]

I don't see anything about a budget cut rather early retirement to free up funds to use elsewhere. No doubt the push to get our subs fully up and running to reflect the threat from Russia has brought forward retirement plans.

[Gordon R]

oowee - where can I get some of your rose tinted glasses? Never mind cuts, Labour should have announced increased spending on the services and taken the money from the two nonsensical money pits - foreign aid and net zero.

[Weihrauch17]

36 minutes ago, Gordon R said:

oowee - where can I get some of your rose tinted glasses? Never mind cuts, Labour should have announced increased spending on the services and taken the money from the two nonsensical money pits - foreign aid and net zero.

This 100%, this Governments priorities are truly obscene. Kill Pensioners, Bankrupt Farmers and threaten food security,  cut back Defence spending whilst goading Russia with Storm Shadows so they can give £14 Billion Annual Foreign Aid,  £12 Billion abroad to help with someone else's none existent Climate change and £30 Billion on GBE and the unproven and totally not needed Carbon Capture BS.  And they will make hundreds of thousands redundant with their budget and the insanity of Net Zero, happening on multiple fronts already.  Utterly mind boggling insanity.

Edited November 20 by Weihrauch17

[old man]

7 hours ago, Weihrauch17 said:

This 100%, this Governments priorities are truly obscene. Kill Pensioners, Bankrupt Farmers and threaten food security,  cut back Defence spending whilst goading Russia with Storm Shadows so they can give £14 Billion Annual Foreign Aid,  £12 Billion abroad to help with someone else's none existent Climate change and £30 Billion on GBE and the unproven and totally not needed Carbon Capture BS.  And they will make hundreds of thousands redundant with their budget and the insanity of Net Zero, happening on multiple fronts already.  Utterly mind boggling insanity.

Captured in a nutshell?

Beyond insanity? Beyond belief?

[TIGHTCHOKE]

The Labour government CANNOT be TRUSTED on ANYTHING.    

[Robden]

I read a report that Liar Starmer is the most hated man in England (if not Britain).  I bet he is the most loved by "Johnny Foreigner."

[Nublue 22]

Is there a thing else to cut in our defence budget? 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

3 minutes ago, Nublue 22 said:

Is there a thing else to cut in our defence budget? 

Not much......................................

[old man]

2 hours ago, Robden said:

I read a report that Liar Starmer is the most hated man in England (if not Britain).  I bet he is the most loved by "Johnny Foreigner."

I have tried, unsuccessfully to understand his mind set? Didn't get further than decimating the welfare of our older population. 

Someone has a powerful grip on his braces?

[B686]

30 minutes ago, old man said:

I have tried, unsuccessfully to understand his mind set? Didn't get further than decimating the welfare of our older population. 

Someone has a powerful grip on his braces?

Someone needs to get a powerful grip round the scruff of the **** heads neck and sling him and the other twits out of government.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

2 minutes ago, B686 said:

Someone needs to get a powerful grip round the scruff of the **** heads neck and sling him and the other twits out of government.

Unfortunately it will NEVER happen.........................