Gillian Keegan insisted the UK's armed forces are prepared (Image: Sky News / Royal Navy)
A top Tory has insisted Britain’s armed forces are well funded and ready to be deployed wherever they are needed.
The reassurance came in the wake of a damning report, revealed today by the Sunday Express, in which MPs from across the political spectrum issued a dire warning that Britain is “too weak” to fight Russia.
The report by the Commons Defence Select Committee says Britain’s weapons stockpile is “far below” the level to counter a threat from the Russian army.
Experts also warn that over-stretched troops are unprepared for high-intensity battles because they struggle to get the training they need.
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The committee declared: “The Government risks being unable to build true warfighting and strategic readiness because of the sheer pace of operations, which could threaten the security of the UK”.
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Gillian Keegan defended army preparedness (Image: Sky News)
This morning Education Secretary Gillian Keegan slapped down the report’s concerns, however, promising that Britain’s forces “are ready”.
Asked on Sky News for a response to the concerning report, Ms Keegan said: “We're spending more than ￡50billion on defence - that is to ensure we have the operational capabilities, whether that's to conduct NATO missions or to help Ukraine; whether it's to conduct some missions that are now taking place in the Red Sea”.
She continued: “We have that operational capability at all times so that we're ready to be there.
“Our armed forces are ready to be there to conduct whatever it is that is required, and they've shown time and time again how well they do and what a vital part of global order they play.”
The warning from the top Commons committee comes as an exclusive poll for the Sunday Express shows around 80 percent of Britons are worried that World War III may break out in the next five years.
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The top Commons committee issued a dire warning amid public concerns about WW3 (Image: Ministry of Defence)
Former defence minister Tobias Ellwood said the polling “reflects growing concern among the British people that the unthinkable could indeed happen again – the rise of an authoritarian alliance challenging our way of life”.
“The lesson of history is that when the forces of disorder overwhelm the forces of order a nightmare awaits. This is why we must invest in our military or our collective hesitance will continue to be exploited.”
The Committee’s report, entitled ‘Ready for War?’ Warns Britain may not be able to “deploy and sustain a force that can fight at high intensity in multiple domains for a prolonged period”.
It also flags the worrying fact that 16,260 people left the UK’s regular armed forces in the past 12 months, with just 10,470 joining.
It says Britain’s armed forces are “consistently overstretched” and caught in a “vicious circle” that has damaged their ability to retain personnel and ensure they are ready to fight”.
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Committee chairman Sir Jeremy Quinn said the UK “must rise to the challenge” and that “we need to know that we would be ready for war”.
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A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: “Our armed forces are always ready to protect and defend the UK, and we continue to meet all operational commitments, including participating in every single Nato mission, supporting Ukraine, and tackling Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
"We are spending more than ￡50 billion on defence this year alone, and have significantly increased our spending on defence equipment to ￡288.6billion over the next decade, including investing in deepening our stockpiles and bringing in new tanks, fighter jets and warships.
“We have been clear that increasing recruitment and improving retention across the services is a top priority, including through ensuring improved career opportunities and making it easier for people to re-join the forces, on top of the largest pay increase in more than 20 years.”
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