Army set for budget boost amid concerns troops overstretched by support for Ukraine

The British Army is set for a budget boost in the wake of concerns troops have been overstretched by the UK’s support for Ukraine, a defence minister suggested on Monday.

The comments by James Heappey were made in response to claims that a senior US general privately told Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, that the British Army was no longer regarded as a top-level fighting force.

Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Heappey said: “Serial under-investment in the Army over decades has led to the point where the Army is in need of urgent recapitalisation.”

Hinting at a potential rise in investment in the budget this spring, he added: “The Chancellor and the Prime Minister get that and there is a Budget coming.”

It comes after The Telegraph reported that the Army feels that the latest gift of tanks by the UK to Ukraine is another example of the force having taken on the “lion’s share” of equipping the war-torn country.

Senior defence sources are understood to feel that the RAF and Navy should be doing more to help to “shoulder the burden”.

'Barely tier two' fighting force

It follows a report by Sky News that a US general privately told the Defence Secretary: “You haven’t got a tier one - it’s barely tier two.”

Mr Wallace also addressed the accusations, as he admitted the Army requires “urgent recapitalisation”. He added: “That’s why we are investing in it.”

Mr Wallace also said he would rather have a “perfectly formed, properly protected men and women of the Armed Forces of a size we can afford and an ambition we can afford than pretend we are somehow reaching beyond ourselves”.

Last month, it was reported that defence spending is set to increase by more than £1 billion to avoid a real-term cut over the next two years.

It is understood that the Treasury has accepted the argument that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) budget should not be falling relative to inflation while the Ukraine war continues.

Military experts have estimated that to avoid real-term cuts, the MoD budget in 2024/25 must rise from £‎48.6 billion to £50.1 billion, meaning an increase of at least around £‎1.5 billion is expected.

Call for Labour to accept responsibility

Mr Wallace also told the Commons on Monday that the Armed Forces have been “hollowed out and underfunded”, but called on Labour to accept some responsibility for the situation.

John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, noted that when Labour left government in 2010, the British Army “stood at over 100,000 full-time troops and we were spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence”.

“The serious hollowing out has happened since. Who does he think has been in charge over the last 13 years?” he asked.

Mr Wallace said: “You only have to listen to the veterans on this side to understand their experience under a Labour government.

“Snatch Land Rovers - let’s remember that and all that awful mess as a result of the Labour government’s investment.

“If [Mr Healey] wants to be the next secretary of defence, he should come here and get off his chest the shortcomings that his former government did.

“I’m happy to say that we have hollowed out and underfunded. Will he do the same? Or will he hide behind petty party politics?”