Cuts have left Army ’20 years out of date’ and Forces ‘not fit for purpose’

Defence cuts have left the British Army 20 years out of date and unable to deal with the battlefield threat from Russian forces, a recently retired senior general has warned MPs.

A lack of money and policy of denial have left the Armed Forces not fit for purpose and at risk of “institutional failure”, Gen Sir Richard Barrons said.

The former head of Joint Forces Command until 2016 said that the defence establishment is “close to breaking” and without more money “will fall over”.