The Conservatives have been accused of “hollowing out” Britain’s armed forces, with the Army losing 23 regiments under nearly 15 years of Tory rule. The number of units is at its lowest since 2010, Labour research has revealed.
Cuts have affected historically significant units, including the 1st and 2nd Royal Tank Regiments, which were merged in 2014. A predecessor of 1 RTR fought in the first tank offensive in 1916, the Battle of El Alamein, and the Normandy Landings. There are now just 176 regular and reserve regiments remaining.
Separate figures show nearly 40 per cent of service personnel live in the worst-graded military single-living accommodation, with almost 30,000 in grade four or below. An independent review highlighted issues with damp, mould, heating, and pest infestations, affecting health and operational effectiveness.
Shadow defence secretary John Healey said: “These figures are the latest example of how Tory ministers are failing our forces daily with the dire state of military housing.” A Labour source added: “The Conservatives like to talk tough on defence, but they have consistently hollowed out our armed forces.”
The government has also turned to private security guards to protect Catterick Garrison, the largest British army base, under a three-year contract. Defence secretary Grant Shapps defended the record, pointing to a commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.
