Recruitment for the Armed Forces has been branded a “national security crisis” by MPs.
Military chiefs are becoming increasingly concerned about the UK’s ability to respond to global threats as the number of people leaving the forces soars past the hiring rate.
For every five people joined the Armed Forces a total of eight are leaving, Tory MP Danny Kruger has revealed.
Kevan Jones, who served as Defence Minister under Gordon Brown, echoed concerns and called for a “radical revolution” in recruitment.
British soldiers stand in front of a military vehicle
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Speaking during a debate about defence spending, Kruger said: “The Public Accounts Committee, I understand, heard for every five people recruited to the armed services, eight are leaving.
“That is a national security crisis, it is not just a problem for recruitment, it is an absolutely profound security risk.”
He added: “We need to get back towards 80,000, 90,000 regular forces, we need to grow the reserve force – 30,000 is not enough even if that 30,000 were real, which I don’t believe it is – we have to significantly grow the reserve force.
“I think a campaign to grow our reserves is necessary not just for its own sake, but it’s a great exercise in communication to the public about the imperative of us all to step up and play our role in the defence of our country.”
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Danny Kruger voiced his concern about recruitment to the Armed Forces
GBNJones also said: “There has got to be a real radical revolution in the way in which armed forces not only recruit people, but actually employ people.
“The number of 18-year-olds is going down, we’re going to have more flexible employment models where people can leave, come back in, have career breaks, things like that.
“Unless we do that, we’re not going to actually get any individuals to join our armed forces.”
Defence Committee chairman Sir Jeremy Quin, who previously served as a Defence Minister, claimed more investment in housing could address the “crisis in retention and recruitment”.
The British Army is in the midst of a recruitment crisisGETTYHe said: “What the UK needs is not a diminution of our ambition, it is an increase in our investment. I’m acutely aware in saying that of the regular charge that additional UK investment in defence is wasteful if the (Ministry of Defence) does not get its house in order on procurement.”
George Galloway, who was elected as the Workers Party of Britain MP for Rochdale in last month’s by-election, added: “There’s plenty of jingo but of course, the men, the ships and the money are more difficult to find.
“We haven’t the men, we haven’t the ships, we haven’t the money, so why are we picking enemies?
“I’ve lost count of the number in the course of this debate that we are either already fighting or may have to get ready to fight. That’s the absurdity, the Alice In Wonderland nature of this debate.”
