Don’t vote against plans for army reserve, top general warns Tory MPs

General Sir Peter Wall warns rebels they would leave gap in Britain’s military capability by opposing increase in reservists

Tory rebels have been warned by the head of the army that they risk “destabilising and damaging” the armed forces if they press ahead with plans to vote against the government’s restructuring of the army.

As at least 20 Tory MPs prepare to join forces with the Democratic Unionists to vote against increasing the size of the army reserve to compensate for cuts in regular troops by 2020, General Sir Peter Wall warned the rebels that they would leave a gap in Britain’s capability.

The chief of the general staff intervened as the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, warned the rebels that they will inflict serious damage on the armed forces if they seek to table an amendment to the defence reform bill that would postpone the government’s plans to increase the number of reservists. Ministers are nervous because Labour is supporting the rebel Tory amendment.

John Baron, Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay who served with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers between from 1984 to 1988, wants the government to delay its plans to increase the number of reservists by 30,000 to compensate for the reduction of regular troops by 20,000.

Baron said: “Rising costs and badly missed reserve recruitment targets confirm the reserve plans are in trouble, and raise the real prospect of unacceptable capability gaps and false economies. We ought to revert to the original plan in 2011 to maintain the regulars until the reservists are ready to take their place.

“These are not wrecking amendments. If passed, they would neither derail the Bill nor the government’s army reserve plans but simply delay them until Parliament has scrutinised their viability and cost-effectiveness. The delay need not be long if the government allowed prompt scrutiny of their report. I am not calling upon the government to reverse course, but to recognise its plans as currently realised are flawed.”

But the head of the army said: “The Army is committed to delivering Army 2020. It will provide a coherent, integrated force of regulars and reserves that will deliver the capability the government requires of us. We are well on our way to implementing this plan.

“To reverse course at this stage would be destabilising and damaging. Increasing and rebuilding the army reserve is crucial to delivering the fighting force of the future. To do otherwise would leave a gap in our capability and deprive talented young people of an opportunity to benefit from military service.”

In a letter to Tory MPs, seen by the BBC, Hammond said: “I hope colleagues will support the government in resisting John’s amendment. To do otherwise will not only give a significant fillip to the Labour party but more significantly would risk serious damage to our future armed forces.”

The Ministry of Defence criticised Labour for supporting the rebel amendment while saying it supports the principle of the government’s reforms. An MoD source said: “Despite not raising any objections in the committee stage …read more