VOTE: Red Arrows safe amid cutbacks to our armed forces
PRIME Minister David Cameron has stepped in to save the Red Arrows from being axed as part of measures set to be announced today to cut back the country's armed forces, it has been claimed.
Axing the RAF's display team was considered a "high pain" option for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as it reviewed its budget ahead of today's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).
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FLYING HIGH: The Red Arrows, which have been saved from the axe, in action
But a senior source at the MoD has confirmed that the aerobatics team is part of the "nation's fabric".
Both Defence Secretary Liam Fox and Mr Cameron have reportedly agreed to safeguard their future.
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This will be confirmed in the SDSR as Dr Fox outlines an eight per cent cut to the ministry's £37 billion budget over four years.
A ministry source told a newspaper: "They are a historic part of the armed forces and they are the ambassadors of the British armed forces and the British defence industry."
It costs £8.8 million a year to keep the Red Arrows in the air, which is a drop in the ocean compared with the £38 billion shortfall in the MoD budget.
However the RAF is expecting to be the big loser in today's SDSR with up to 9,000 airmen and women expected to be culled in the cuts.
Just months after the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the force faces the loss of almost a quarter of its 41,000 uniformed personnel. The Navy may lose 5,000 of its 35,760 sailors.
The move comes after Mr Cameron caved in to Army chiefs' objections to initial demands for cuts of more than 7,000 soldiers which they said would threaten Britain's mission in Afghanistan.
Up to 20,000 uniformed jobs will go from the 178,000 in the three services under the SDSR. Thousands of the MoD's 85,000 civilian staff will also be out.
The revelation has infuriated air force and naval officers who fear it will mean the closure of historic bases and put Britain's security at risk.
County bases which could be affected include Kirton, as well as RAF Coningsby, Cranwell, Waddington, Digby and Scampton, which combined employ 6,220 service personnel and 1,490 civilians.
It is also feared that Tornado jets – the backbone of the RAF – will be phased out earlier than planned as their role is gradually taken over by Eurofighter Typhoons. Britain's initial order for 138 US Joint Strike Fighters will be slashed to "around 40", said MoD sources.
Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy said: "If these reports are true, this is extremely worrying. The RAF plays a critical role in maintaining Britain's defences at home and throughout the world."
Nic Dakin, Labour MP for Scunthorpe, said: "Like everybody else locally, I think the Red Arrows do a fantastic job.
"However, I don't think the Government is going about its review in the right way. They should look at everything and not rule things out one by one.
"While I welcome the announcement the Red Arrows will be saved, I think it's the wrong way to go about Government business."
Comments
by RobS, Goole
Wednesday, October 20 2010, 11:21AM
“Aerospace and armaments one of biggest export sectors earning this country billions of pounds and dollars. I attend military supply shows in USA and the UK is the only country treated as equal in supplying equipment. Ron, go back to your cave.”
by Andy, WHV
Tuesday, October 19 2010, 8:13PM
“Agreed with phil, they are also an advert for the UKs technical abilities and industry, dont forget the vry jets they use are built in this region!
Some people need to get their heads out of their ar@se and look at the bigger picture.”
by DD, Scunny
Tuesday, October 19 2010, 5:18PM
“Well said Phil, moRON the loony biggott racist won't have an answer to that the dopey miserable clown.
Keep the red arrows and get rid of da doo ron ron, what an idiot !”
by phil, scunthorpe
Tuesday, October 19 2010, 3:39PM
“Well the pilots opf these planes are in fact all trained jet pilots, who before selection for a tour with the Red Arrows have to have completed operational tours on thier respective aircraft. Once they have completed the three year tour, they go back to from whence they came. They are an excellent recruitment/PR tool, hence the very full display calendar each year, turning down dozens of requests. Ron, you could ask why the Army pay millions a year for horses, and why we have a Horse Guards when we will never use horses in battle again. The Hawk aircraft can have a use in war time.”
by Ron, Broughton
Tuesday, October 19 2010, 2:50PM
“Let's have an explanation please from some of the YES voters as to why this bunch of 'Pretty coloured patterns in the sky' makers should be excluded from the cuts.What use are they to defence in their mickey mouse airoplanes?”