Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

MP appalled by recruiting cap on Redhill T.A.

The government have cut the budget of the Territorial Army by 5 million pounds over the next two financial years.  Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate along with scores of other MPs who play host to units affected have received a letter from the minister of state for the armed forces, the Rt. Hon. Bob Ainsworth MP, informing him how the cuts should be implemented. It has been decided to implement these cuts by not allowing under strength units such as 150 Recovery Company based at Batts hill, Redhill to recruit more members.

Crispin Blunt said “It is utterly astonishing that the MOD has had to cut the budget to the T.A. whilst the whole of the armed forces and the Army in particular, are under such enormous pressure with the deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Regular Army is wholly dependant to sustain these and other commitments, such as in the Balkans, on the Territorial Army. To prevent 150 Recovery Company from making up their shortfall in numbers for two more years, places an unacceptable burden on their unit cohesion and their ability to perform their role. This is a stupid, short sighted cut, typical of the gross mismanagement of defence by this government and one of the consequences of the government’s enthusiasm to send our soldiers to war without giving them the resources necessary.”