Kevan Jones MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Minister, responding to reports the Army are proposing to axe almost 3,000 soldiers in a new round of redundancies next year, said:

“The Government’s failure to reform the Services could have real consequences for capability.

“Specialist skills are being lost from the Army while reserve replacements cannot be recruited. Defence planning assumptions may be undermined by a shortfall in personnel.

“A failed economic plan had led to repeated cuts to defence, in particular more soldier sackings. Any further redundancies would need to be justified militarily.

“This Government have reduced capacity without reforming capability.

“There is understandable anger and hurt across the service community at David Cameron’s broken promises and bad policy.”