Boris Johnson signals major budget increase for cash-strapped Army with new defence review

BRITAIN’S cash-strapped armed forces were last night given hope of a major budget increase as the biggest defence review since the Cold War began.

Boris Johnson ordered the major overhaul last night to ensure the country is prepared for rapidly changing global threats, as well as define its post-Brexit role in the world.

For the first time in decades, it will also include everything the UK does overseas, from foreign policy to aid cash.

And in a key revelation last night, No10 said the MoD will not have to keep its plans within its current strained budget.

A No10 source said: “It is not set up as previous spending reviews have been to be cost neutral”.

Tory MPs have sided with top brass to call for a big increase in defence spending after chiefs struggle to carry out all their currents tasks.

There were renewed calls last night for the PM to hike the military’s money from 2% of annual national income to 3%.

Announcing the review, Boris said last night: “We must do more to adapt. We will be judged by how we respond to the opportunities ahead.

“As the world changes we must move with it – harnessing new technologies and ways of thinking to ensure British foreign policy is rooted firmly in our national interests, now and in the decades ahead.”

'OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD'

Commons Defence Committee chair Tobias Ellwood last night welcomed the potential defence budget increase, dubbing the review “a generational opportunity to upgrade our defence posture”.

Mr Ellwood, a former defence minister, added: “If we are serious about a ‘Global Britain’ that must begin by defending our standards and way of life.

“This requires urgent investment in our hard power.

“It’s time to bury the myth that we are meeting all our operational commitments. We are not. Our forces are over-stretched, our surface and air fleets are now too small and land equipment suck as our 20 year old battle tank, is out of date.”

Experts have been told to look at how technology and big data can be used better to protect the UK against the array of new threats, from cyber attacks to fake news and malicious propaganda.

While the Department for International Development’s role will also be reviewed, No10 also made it clear last night it won’t cut the huge aid budget.

The international target of spending 0.7% of national income on aid will be kept, despite the UK being one of the few countries in the world to still meet it.

The review’s conclusions will be unveiled in the Autumn, alongside the Whitehall-wide comprehensive spending review that will look at every ministries’ budgets.

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