Vernon Coaker MP Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary , responding to the National Audit Office report on the Ministry of Defence’s major projects spending, said:

“David Cameron has made bad decisions on defence that are costing the taxpayer millions of pounds. In 2010, against all advice, he changed the initial order of the previous Labour government for the type of jets to fly off the aircraft carrier, only to change his mind back again two years later. Now we find out that on his watch the cost of the aircraft carrier project has gone a staggering £754m over budget in the last year alone.

“At the same time, a £1.2bn underspend in the MoD’s Equipment Plan can’t be explained, and might have implications for major defence projects being delivered on time and on budget further down the line.

“The Defence Secretary’s claim that he ‘balanced the books’ looks more and more ridiculous. Because whether it’s on the cost of collapsed procurement plans, figures for Reserve recruitment or spending on equipment, he just can’t seem to get his sums right.”