Ian Lucas MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Minister, responding to news that the Ministry of Defence has put its programmes to train Libyan soldiers on hold, said:

“The training of Libyan soldiers was central to the UK government’s long-term security strategy for the region.

"Having been significantly delayed in the first instance, the UK-based training programme has now collapsed in disarray and scandal, and there are no plans to continue it elsewhere.

"The Defence Secretary needs to explain how this has gone so badly wrong and urgently clarify the government’s strategy for helping to build a safe and stable Libya, including whether or not training Libyan soldiers is part of it.”