British Army is in a 'dire state' says Tobias Ellwood
More Videos
0 seconds of 49 seconds Volume 90%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled
Shortcuts Open/Close / or ?
Play/Pause SPACE
Increase Volume ↑
Decrease Volume ↓
Seek Forward →
Seek Backward ←
Captions On/Off c
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreen f
Mute/Unmute m
Decrease Caption Size -
Increase Caption Size + or =
Seek % 0-9
Next Up
GB News panel clash over Rule Britannia
02:11
twitter facebook Email Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/V8xjxvKe Copied
Live
00:00
00:49
00:49
More Videos
Close
Outdated rules preventing potential recruits joining the armed forces will be scrapped under Labour plans to end a manpower crisis.
Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey will put a stop to regulations banning beards and tattoos.
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Link Sponsored Link
Promoted Links Promoted Links
DateMyAge
Revolutionizing Dating: Ladies Message FirstDateMyAge Try Now
Undo
And he will reform rules preventing people from joining if they suffer from asthma, high blood pressure or poor circulation. The new focus will be on helping people get fit rather than turning them away.
Mr Healey said: “When the Government is failing to meet its recruitment targets, there’s something seriously flawed in the system.
“We will have to overhaul that. This will be a first priority for a new Government, as part of trying to make sure our forces are fit to fight in the future.”
Sponsored
Health-Review24
Health-Review24 Learn More
Blood Sugar Above 100? Do This (It's Genius)
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Trending
The army aimed to recruit 8,220 people in 2022-23 to non-officer ranks, but only 5,560 started training. An inquiry by the House of Commons Defence Committee found that the Ministry of Defence recruits only five replacements for every eight people who leave the armed forces, and the size of the UK’s army is set to fall below 70,000 regular soldiers within two years.
This is despite the department spending ￡39.7million on recruitment campaigns since 2020-21.
As well as changing the rules, Mr Healey vowed to speed up the recruitment process. He said: “The army is the smallest since we fought Napoleon.
“We have to have recruitment to our armed forces that gets the talent we need and the numbers we need at the speed that we need.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Emmanuel Macron to strengthen French and Ukrainian armies with 2,000 new Kamikaze drones
10 Comments
Penniless pensioners ‘forced to sit in the dark and eat dog food' fear Budget ‘clobbering'
2017 Comments
Penny Mordaunt brilliantly mocks SNP as she jokes party was behind Willy Wonka fiasco
90 Comments
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sets clear election dividing line with major tax promise
6 Comments
Huge blow for Putin as even Europe's most neutral country turns on him with ￡6.2bn promise
31 Comments
Blow for Rishi Sunak as his Rwanda Bill suffers more humiliating defeats in House of Lords
538 Comments
Angry farmers warn Rishi Sunak they will desert Tories at election if rural voters ignored
415 Comments
Humza Yousaf's FMQs descends into chaos with unruly mob sparking uproar nine times
40 Comments
OBR 'demolishes' idea migration is big economic benefit, Tory MP rages
220 Comments
DWP state pension age update as MP asks what criteria it uses to decide increase
7 Comments
Shock data shows 3.9m unemployed and claiming benefits without any requirement to work
4 Comments
Ukraine 'crisis' as corrupt officials steal ￡31m meant for weapons to pummel Putin
19 Comments
Ex-Covid chief makes stark admission about future: 'We'll definitely get another pandemic'
42 Comments
'Crisis' in Spain as UK tourists planning summer holidays issued Costa Del Sol warning
80 Comments
Outrage as Budget small print reveals no new cash for defence spending next year
269 Comments
Britain is too weak to fight Russia warns Labour defence chief John Healey
196 Comments
'Cutting-edge' tech gives UK soldiers 'high probability' of shooting down deadly drones
31 Comments
Elite Rangers will help to defend new Nato ally Sweden
27 Comments
Labour 'cowards and hypocrites' for opposing Rwanda migrants plan
1382 Comments
Grant Shapps issues new ultimatum to Jeremy Hunt over defence budget black hole
54 Comments
Emmanuel Macron to strengthen French and Ukrainian armies with 2,000 new Kamikaze drones
10 Comments
Penniless pensioners ‘forced to sit in the dark and eat dog food' fear Budget ‘clobbering'
2017 Comments
Penny Mordaunt brilliantly mocks SNP as she jokes party was behind Willy Wonka fiasco
90 Comments
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sets clear election dividing line with major tax promise
6 Comments
Huge blow for Putin as even Europe's most neutral country turns on him with ￡6.2bn promise
31 Comments
Blow for Rishi Sunak as his Rwanda Bill suffers more humiliating defeats in House of Lords
538 Comments
Angry farmers warn Rishi Sunak they will desert Tories at election if rural voters ignored
415 Comments
Humza Yousaf's FMQs descends into chaos with unruly mob sparking uproar nine times
40 Comments
OBR 'demolishes' idea migration is big economic benefit, Tory MP rages
220 Comments
DWP state pension age update as MP asks what criteria it uses to decide increase
7 Comments
Shock data shows 3.9m unemployed and claiming benefits without any requirement to work
4 Comments
Ukraine 'crisis' as corrupt officials steal ￡31m meant for weapons to pummel Putin
19 Comments
Ex-Covid chief makes stark admission about future: 'We'll definitely get another pandemic'
42 Comments
'Crisis' in Spain as UK tourists planning summer holidays issued Costa Del Sol warning
80 Comments
Outrage as Budget small print reveals no new cash for defence spending next year
269 Comments
Britain is too weak to fight Russia warns Labour defence chief John Healey
196 Comments
'Cutting-edge' tech gives UK soldiers 'high probability' of shooting down deadly drones
31 Comments
Elite Rangers will help to defend new Nato ally Sweden
27 Comments
Labour 'cowards and hypocrites' for opposing Rwanda migrants plan
1382 Comments
Grant Shapps issues new ultimatum to Jeremy Hunt over defence budget black hole
54 Comments
Emmanuel Macron to strengthen French and Ukrainian armies with 2,000 new Kamikaze drones
10 Comments
Penniless pensioners ‘forced to sit in the dark and eat dog food' fear Budget ‘clobbering'
2017 Comments
Penny Mordaunt brilliantly mocks SNP as she jokes party was behind Willy Wonka fiasco
90 Comments
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sets clear election dividing line with major tax promise
6 Comments
Huge blow for Putin as even Europe's most neutral country turns on him with ￡6.2bn promise
31 Comments
Blow for Rishi Sunak as his Rwanda Bill suffers more humiliating defeats in House of Lords
538 Comments
Angry farmers warn Rishi Sunak they will desert Tories at election if rural voters ignored
415 Comments
Related articles Plans for statue of Queen Elizabeth II in Trafalgar Square unveiled Police blasted by Home Office for ruining 1,200 'vital' DNA samples Keir Starmer in toxic nightmare battle to keep hold of Labour heartland seat Rishi Sunak's ￡5 billion transport plan to "fire up" the north
“If you talk to people with experience of trying to join the forces, whether full time or as reserves, many will say this is too slow and it rules too many people out for reasons that should not prevent them from serving.”
Labour will also appoint an independent Commissioner to champion armed forces personnel, accountable to Parliament rather than the Government, to expose problems such as poor accommodation.
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info